A BEGINNERS' 
COURSE IN 
BIBLE STUDY 



SECOND YEAR 





Class 3Sko5 

Book 



<Ik 



OopyrightN . 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT; 



A PRIMARY PAGE IN 
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES 
FOR FOUNDATION - BUILDERS 



WHEN we look for Sunday-school life and progress, 
co-operation, and alert, aggressive, new-century 
methods, we instinctively turn to the primary teachers 
of our land. They are in the van of the Sunday-school 
army. What a cause for thanksgiving this is ! No other 
department of the school is more important, and no other 
department is more interesting. A full page of The 
Sunday School Times once a month is devoted to the 
primary teacher and her work, in addition, of course, 
to the splendid primary lesson treatment furnished 
every week in its columns from the master hand and 
loving heart of Mrs. Mary Foster Bryner. On this page 
Mrs. J. W. Barnes, International Primary Secretary, 
conducts a Question Box Column. Primary " Ways of 
Working," telling of the thousand-and-one bright ideas 
that are being thought out and wrought out by earnest 
teachers in small schools and large ; hints for primary 
unions, those local centers of inspiration and unity ; 
special articles from primary experts on matters of living- 
interest to all who would keep pace with the newest and 
best ; and — perhaps most interesting of all- — true inci- 
dents of the work, combine to make this page unique in 
its interest and value to the teachers of the little ones. 
Questions from the readers on all phases of primary work, 
problems, and difficulties, are answered by acknowl- 
edged experts. If you want light on any problem that 
may be now confronting you, primary teachers, write at 
once to The Sunday School Times about it, and helpful 
suggestions will be given you, either in the paper or by 
letter. 



The Sunday School Times is issued every week, and co7i- 
tains a wealth of general Sunday-school information and 
practical suggestions. It costs a little more than any other 
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age to one address. 



A BEGINNERS' 
COURSE IN 
BIBLE STUDY 



ISSUED BY THe\\MERICAX SECTION 
O F T H E I % X TERXATIONAL 
LESS O N O O M M I T T E E, F R 
PUPILS UNDER SIX YEARS OF AGE 



TEACHING HINTS BY 
GEORGE HAMILTON ARCHIBALD 



Published by 



THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES CO. 

1031 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA. 



1^ 



!Tvwr> ^ooies *f!ceiv*Ki 
OCt 21 1904 
ft Somrrtrtt Entry / 

CLASS CiUXXo. Ha 



Copyright, 1904, 

by 

The Sunday School Times Co. 



^'^^^^>^>^^>^^^ 
^^^^^^•^^s^^ 



NOTE CAREFULLY 



THE new two-year Beginners' Course 
* which is given in full on the following 
seven pages, and the second year of which 
is taught by Mr. Archibald in this book, 
is a NEW course, and is not a continua- 
tion of the one-year course which ap- 
peared in 1 90 1. Some teachers have 
mistakenly supposed that a class which 
has used the course of 1901 is therefore 
ready for the second year of this new two- 
year course. This is not so. It is true that 
some of the lesson material of the former 
course appears in the first year of the new 
course, but the plan and material of the 
new course, taken as a whole, are so dif- 
ferent from that of the old, that the advice 
of Mrs. J. W. Barnes, International Pri- 
mary Secretary, on this point is : " Begin 
with the first year of the 7iew course " 






Lessons and Golden Texts 

(For scholars under six years of age.) 

Issued under the authority of the American Section of the 
International Lesson Committee, and, in accordance with in- 
structions from the Denver Triennial Convention of 1902, 
marked "Optional." 

The course is arranged to begin with September, and work 
towards Thanksgiving and Christmas. It may, however, be 
begun at any time by the teacher, care being exercised to 
commence at the lesson corresponding with the month in 
which the individual teacher begins. 

In most cases the Golden Texts have been taken from the 
Revised Version. But in one or two cases, where the Author- 
ized Version was simpler, and the meaning the same as that 
of the Revised, the former has been retained. 

A. F. Schauffler, Secretary, 

105 East 22d Street, New York City. 



First Year 

Theme: God the Creator. 

Golden Text: All things were made by him (John 1 : 3). 

1. God Making Trees and Flowers (Gen. 1 : 9-13). 

2. God Making Animals (Gen. 1 : 20-25). 

3. God Making All Things (Gen. 1 : 1-8, 14-19). 

Theme : Home Life. 

Golden Text: Lord, thou art our father (Isa. 64 : 8). 

4. The First Family (Gen. 1 : 26-31 ; 3 : 20 ; 4 : 1, 2). 

5. The First Home (Gen. 2 : 4-10, 15-17). 

Theme: God's Loving Care. 

Golden Text : He careth for you (1 Pet. 5 : 7). 

6. God Caring for Birds and Flowers (Matt. 6 : 26-34). 

7. God Caring for Baby Moses (Exod. 2 : 1-10). 

iv 



Lessons and Golden Texts v 

8. God Caring for Elijah (e Kings 17 : 1-6). 

9. God Caring for Many People (Exod. 16 : ii-iS, 31-35). 

Theme : Giving Thanks to God. 

Golden Text : O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good 
(Psa. 106 : 1). 

10. Daniel Thanking God (Dan. 2 : 17-24). 

11. The Israelites Thanking God (Exod. 14 : 9, 10, 21-31; 

Exod. 15 : 1-21). 

12. Thanking God for All Things (Psa. 103 : 1-5; 

104 : 10-24). 

13. Thanking God in Heaven (Rev. 7 : 9-17). 

Theme : Giving. 

Golden Text : God loveth a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9 : 7). 

14. A Poor Woman's Gift (Mark 12 : 41-44). 

15. Giving to the Needy (Neh. 8 : 1-12). 

16. The Israelites Giving to God (Exod. 35 : 20-29). 
Golden Text: He loved us, and sent his Son (1 John 4 : 10). 

17. God's Gift of His Son (Luke 2 : 1-20). 

18. The Wise Men's Gifts (Matt. 2 : 1-11). 

Theme: The Boy Jesus. 

Golden Text : His name was called Jesus (Luke 2 : 21). 

19. Jesus Being Named (Luke 2 : 21-39;. 

20. Jesus in His Home (Luke 2 : 39, 40, 51, 52,. 

Golden Text: Let us go unto the house of the Lord (Psa. 
122 : 1). 
2r. Jesus Going to the House of God (Luke 2 : 41-49). 

Theme: The Man Jesus. 

Golden Text: He took them in his arms, and blesssd them 
(Mark 10 : 16). 

22. Jesus' Love for Children (Matt. 19 : 13-15 ; Mark 10 : 

13-16). 

Golden Text: I will sing unto the Lord (Exod. 15 : 1). 

23. Children Praising Jesus (Matt. 21 : 6-17). 
Golden Text: Who went about doing good (Acts 10 : 38.) 

24. Jesus Feeding the Hungry (Mark 6 : 30-44 ; John 

6 : 1-14). 



vi A Beginners Course 

25. Jesus and the Storm (Mark 4 : 35-41 ; Matt. 8 : 23-27). 

26. Jesus Curing a Sick Boy (John 4 : 46-54). 

27. Jesus and J aims' Daughter (Mark 5 : 21-24, 35~43)« 

Theme : Resurrection Lessons. 

Golden Text : We shall all be changed (1 Cor. 15 : 51). 

28. The Flowers Blooming Again. (Song of Solomon 

2 : n-13 ; Luke 12 : 27). 

Golden Text : Christ died, and lived again (Rom. 14 : 9). 

29. Jesus Dying and Living Again (Matt. 28 : 1-10). 

Golden Text : I go to prepare a place for you (John 14 : 2). 

30. Jesus Returns to Heaven (Acts 1 : 9-11). 

31. Our Heavenly Home (John 14 : 1-3 ; Rev. 22 : 1-5). 

Theme: Reverence. 

Golden Text: The Lord our God is holy (Psa. 99 : 9). 

32. Reverence for God's Name (Exod. 20 : 7 ; 1 Kings 8 : 

41-43 ; Psa. 113 : 1-5). 

33. Reverence for God's House (Exod. 3:1-6; 40:34- 

38 ; Psa. 122 : 1 ; Eccl. 5 : i, 2). 

Golden Text: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy 
(Exod. 20 : 8). 

34. Reverence for God's Day (Neh. 13 : 15-22 ; Gen. 2: 

2, 3 ; Exod. 20 : 8-n ; Isa. 56 : 2-7). 

Golden Text: I will not forget thy word (Psa. 119 : 16). 

35. Reverence for God's Word (2 Chron. 34 : i-6, 14-18, 

29-33)- 

Theme : Obedience. 

Golden Text : Children, obey your parents (Eph. 6:1). 

36. Joseph Obeying His Father (Gen. 37 : 13-17). 

Golden Text: I will help thee (Isa. 41 : 10). 

37. Fishermen Obeying Jesus (Luke 5 : i-n). 

38. Noah Obeying God (Gen. 7 : 12-24 ; Gen. 8 : 1-22 ; 

Gen. 9 : 13). 

39. God will Help Us to Obey Him (Dan. 1 : 1-21). 



Lessons and Golden Texts yij 

Theme : Repentance. 

Golden Text : I will be sorry for my sin (Psa. 38 : 18). 

40. Peter's Sorrow for Sin (Luke 22 : 54-62 ; John 21 : 

I5-I7). 

41. Turning Away from Sin (Luke 19 : 1-10). 

Theme: Forgiveness. 

Golden Text: Ready to forgive (Psa. 86 : 5). 

42. Joseph Forgiving His Brothers (Gen. 37 : 23-28 ; 45 : 

I-I5). 

43. A Father's Forgiveness (Luke 15 : 11-24). 

Theme: Prayer. 

Golden Text : My God will hear me (Micah 7 : 7). 

44. Hezekiah's Prayer for Help, Granted (2 Kings 20 : 1-7). 

45. David's Prayer for His Child, Denied (2 Sam. 12 : 

I5-23)- 

46. Elisha's Prayer for a Child, Granted (2 Kings 4 : 8-37). 

47. Jesus Praying (Luke 3 : 21, 22 ; Mark 1 : 35 ; Mark 

14 : 26-42). 

Theme : Kindness. 

Golden Text : Be ye kind one to another (Eph. 4 : 32). 

48. Rebekah's Kindness (Gen. 24 : 10-20, 29-31). 

49. The Boy and the Lamb (1 Sam. 17 : 32-38). 

50. David's Kindness to a Lame Boy (2 Sam. 9 : 1-13). 

51. Elisha's Kindness to a Poor Woman (2 Kings 4 : 1-7). 

52. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10 : 30-37). 



Second Year 

Theme : Happy Home Life. 

Golden Text: Honour thy father and thy mother (Exod. 

20 : 12). 

1. Miriam Ready to Help (Exod. 2 : 1-10). 

2. Respect for Parents (Jer. 35 : 10 ; Eph. 6 : 1-4). 
Golden Text: Blessed are the peacemakers (Matt. 5 : 9). 

3. Jonathan the Peacemaker (1 Sam. 19 : 1-7 ; 1 Thess. 

5 : 13)- 



viii A Beginners" Course 

Golden Text: Preferring one another (Rom. 12 : 10). 

4. Kindness to Guests (2 Kings 4 : 8-13 ; Heb. 13 : 2). 

Theme: Unselfishness. 

Golden Text: Christ also pleased not himself (Rom. 15 : 3) 

5. Abraham and Lot (Gen. 13 : 1-9). 

6. Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1 : 1-22). 

Theme: Gods Goodness. 

Golden Text: God shall supply every need 6f yours (Phil. 
4 : 19). 

7. God's Care for Ishmael (Gen. 21 : 12-20). 

8. God's Care for Elijah (1 Kings 17 : 8-16). 

9. God's Care for Daniel (Dan. 6 : 1-23). 
10. God's Care for Peter (Acts 12 : 1-17). 
n. God's Care for Us (Psa. 23 : 1-6). 

12. God's Care for Ail Things (Matt. 6 : 25-30). 

Theme: Gratitude. 

Golden Text : Be ye thankful (Col. 3 : 15). 

13. A Man Thanking Jesus (Luke 17 : 11-19). 

14. A Lame Man Thanking God (A*cts 3 : 1-10). 

Theme: Helpfulness. 

Golden Text : Let us do good unto all (Gal. 6 : 10). 

15. A Little Girl Helping Her Master (2 Kings 5 : 1-5, 

9-14). 

16. Samuel Helping in the House of God (1 Sam. 3 : 1-10). 

17. Friends Helping a Sick Man (Mark 2 : 1-12). 

18. A Little Boy Helping Jesus (John 6 : 5-14). 

Golden Text: For God so loved the world, that he gave his 
only begotten Son (John 3 : 16). 

19. God Helping Us by the Gift of His Son (Matt. 1 : 21 ; 
Luke 2 : 1-20 ; 1 Tim. 1 : 15). 

Theme : Jesus Our Helper. 

Golden Text : Lord, be thou my helper (Psa. 30 : 10). 

20. Jesus Helping the Fishermen (John 21 : 2-13). 

21. Jesus Feeding Four Thousand Men (Matt. 15 : 32-39 ; 
Mark 8 : 1-9). 

22. Jesus Healing a Leper (Matt. 8 : 1-4 ; Marki : 40-45). 



Lessons and Golden Texts ix 

Golden Text: My help cometh from the Lord (Psa. 121 : 2), 

23. Jesus Healing a Blind Man (John 9 : 1-41). 

24. Jesus Raising the Widow's Son (Luke 7 : n-17). 

Theme: Jesus Our Teacher. 

Golden Text : Teach me thy way, O Lord (Psa. 27 : 11). 

25. Jesus' Example of Service (John 13 : 1-15). 

26. Jesus' Story of a Supper (Luke 14 : 16-24). 

27. Jesus' Story of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15 : ^-j). 

28. Jesus' Story of the Seed (Matt. 13 : 3-8). 

Theme: The Risen and Ascended Lord. 

Golden Text: Behold, I make all things new (Rev. 21 : 5). 

29. New Life in Nature (Gen. 1 : 12 ; Song of Solomon 

7 : 11-13 ; Psa. 65 : 9 ; Psa. 74 : 16, 17 ; Psa. 104 : 
14-17 ; Psa. 147 : 16-18). 
Golden Text : He is Risen (Matt. 28 : 6). 

30. Jesus' New Life (Luke 24 : 1-9). 

Golden Text: In my Father's house are many mansions 
(John 14 : 2). 

31. Jesus Going Back to Heaven (Luke 24 : 36-53). 

32. Our New Life (Rev. 21 : 1-4, 21-27). 

Theme: Jesus' Nearness to Us. 

Golden Text : I am with you alway (Matt. 28 : 20). 

33. Jesus' Promise of Nearness (John 14 : 18-23 ; 16 : 

16-22 ; Matt. 28 : 20). 

34. Jesus' Nearness to Paul (Acts 18:1-11 ; 2 Tim. 4: 

16-18). 

Theme: Obedience. 

Golden Text : We must obey God (Acts 5 : 29). 

35. Gideon and the Three Hundred (Judges 7 : 12-21). 

36. Peter and John Obeying God (Acts 5 : 17-32). 

Theme: Honesty. 

Golden Text : Let us walk honestly (Rom. 13 : 13). 

37. The Honest Workmen (2 Chron. 24 : 4, 8-14 ; 2 Kings 

12 : n-15). 

38. The Dishonest Servant (2 Kings 5 : 20-27). 

39. The Honest Treasurers (Ezra 8 : 21-34). 



x A Beginners' Course 

Theme : Truthfulness. 

Golden Text : My mouth shall speak truth (Pro v. 8 : 7). 

40. Samuel Telling the Truth (1 Sam. 3 : 1-21). 

41. Daniel Telling tiie Truth (Dan. 5 : 13-30). 

42. Truthful at All Times (John 1 : 43-51 ; Eph. 4 : 25 ; 

Psa. 15 : 1, 2). 

Theme: Self-Control. 

Golden Text : Be patient toward all (1 Thess. 5 : 14). 

43. David's Self-Control (1 Sam. 26 : 1-25). 

44. Jesus Bearing Wrong (Luke 9 : 51-56). 

Theme : Prayer. 

Golden Text: Lord, teach us to pray (Luke n : 1). 

45. Praying for Help (Neh. 1 : i-n). 

46. Praying for Others (1 Sam. 12 : 19-24 ; Matt. 5 : 44 ; 

James 5 : 13-16). 

47. When and Where to Pray (Matt. 6:6; Dan. 6 : 10 ; 

Acts 3 : 1 ; Gen. 24 : 10-14 ; Neh. 2:4; James 5 : 13 ; 
Matt. 8 : 23-46). 

Theme : Forgiveness. 

Golden Text: Forgiving each other (Eph. 4 : 32). 

48. Stephen Forgiving His Enemies (Acts 7 : 54-60). 

49. Jesus Forgiving Peter (John 18 : 15-18, 25-27 ;' John 

21 : 15-17). 

Theme : Love. 

Golden Text : Let us love one another, for love is of God 

(1 John 4: 7). 

50. Jonathan's Love for David (1 Sam. 18 : 1-4 ; 20 : 1-42). 

51. Mary's Love for Jesus (John 12 : 1-8 ; Mark 14 : 3-9). 

52. Jesus' Love for His Friends (John n : 1-44). 



INTRODUCTION TO SECOND YEAR 

THE teaching hints given in this book have been 
prepared in the hope that they will be found 
helpful to the teachers and mothers of very little 
people. 

It is presumed that the teachers who take up this 
second year's course are acquainted with, and possi- 
bly have used, that of the first year. 

Much of the success in teaching these lessons to 
little people will depend upon the teacher's ability to 
tell a story. In these stories the child's affection and 
sympathy have been appealed to, rather than his 
intellect. 

The teacher should study each story well in order 
to get a clear picture of it as a whole ; otherwise the 
child will fail to see it clearly. She should become 
thoroughly acquainted with the detail, and aim to 
make much of the action. She should rehearse the 
story until she is quite sure of it. 

To carry out all the suggestions made in the fol- 
lowing lessons, the superintendent of the department 
will have to be supplied with a sand-tray, some 
blocks, some small blackboards, paper pads or slates. 

A Sand-tray can be easily and cheaply prepared 
as follows : Make the tray of wood. For a small tray, 
thirty-six by twenty-two inches is a good size. Have 
it about three inches deep. Paint the bottom surface 
blue, and if you care to have it a little more elaborate, 
cover the blue painted surface with glass. This keeps 

xi 



xii A Beginners' Course 



& 



it cleaner and makes the handling of the sand easier. 
Get from some foundry enough sand to nearly 
fill the tray. Molders' brown sand that has not been 
used is the best. Sea sand is rather too loose, and 
will not adhere well. The sand should be sprinkled 
with water from week to week and kept damp. 

Blocks. The best blocks are those commonly 
used in the kindergarten, but if these are too expen- 
sive, the teacher will find plenty in the waste of any 
carpenter or cabinet shop. These will answer every 
purpose almost as well, and probably cost nothing. 

Blackboards. Possibly blackboards can be put 
up about the room for the children to use in giving 
expression to the lesson story. Failing these, small 
blackboards or paper pads and pencils can be sup- 
plied to the children. The small blackboards can 
be bought cheaply almost anywhere, and nothing will 
be found more helpful in impressing the lesson story 
than their use in the manner suggested. 

Memory Verses have been suggested for each 
theme. These verses are not meant to point the 
moral of the story, but are to be used as memory 
gems. They can be sung to music, repeated by the 
class together, or used in any manner that the teacher 
thinks best. Only one selection for each theme has 
been supplied, as there will probably not be time to 
teach the children more. The teacher should not 
feel that because these verses have been suggested, 
it is necessary to use them. There may be cases 
where it would be as well to omit the verses altogether. 

Physical Exercises. If the children are restless, 
the teacher will do well to allow them to march and 



Introduction to Second Year xiii 

thoroughly exercise before they settle down for the 
lesson story. The following will make a good physi- 
cal drill : All stand up together. All sit down 
together. Stand up again. Place hands on hips. 
Hands on shoulders. Hands on heads. Hands at 
sides. Open and shut hands quickly. Bend arms 
at elbows. Raise arms above head, palms open to 
the front. Rise on tiptoes and reach as high as 
possible. Turn neck and head. Bend head back- 
ward and forward. Touch floor with fingers. Raise 
feet knee high, alternately, etc. (Repeat each move- 
ment several times.) 

Pictures. Most of the pictures suggested for 
these lessons can be purchased from the Perry Pic- 
tures Company, Maiden, Mass. ; The W. A. Wilde 
Company, Boylston Street, Boston, or G. P. Brown, 
Beverly, Mass. In England they can be secured from 
H. H. Pinkney, 10 Avondale P.oad, Croyden. 

Some simple suggestions for the blackboard have 
been made, but only in cases where it is thought the 
outlines may help to stimulate the imagination of the 
child. If the teacher uses the pictures, she will 
probably not need to use the blackboard outlines at 
all. The sketches are very simply made, but that 
the inexperienced teacher may understand their 
meaning, we have given a short description with 
lesson number one. The other sketches may be 
made in much the same manner. 



HAPPY HOME LIFE 

Golden Text for Lessons i and 2 : Honor thy father 
and thy mother (Exod. 20: 12). 



Lesson 1 
Miriam Ready to Help (Exod. 1 : 1-10). 

Result Sought : 

A spirit of helpfulness. 

Suggestion to Teachers : 

Be sure and read the Introduction to the second 
year series on pages xi to xiii. 

If the nervous energy of the children has not been 
sufficiently thrown off by the marching and other 
movements of the opening exercises, be sure to give 
them some definite physical exercise immediately 
preceding the telling of the story, so that they will be 
quite ready to sit and listen. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many have a baby at home ? How big is 
he ? What color are his eyes and his hair ? What 
does he do when you play with him ? How do you 
hold him ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

I am going to tell you how a girl named Miriam 
took care of her baby brother. The baby's name 

I 



2 A Beginners' Course 

was Moses and his mother was Jochebed. Little 
Moses was only three months old, but ever since he 
came to them they had had to hide him. I will tell 
you why. 

In the land where Jochebed and Miriam and 
Moses lived, there was a wicked king. He was so 
wicked that he wanted to kill all Hebrew boy babies. 
So Jochebed and Miriam were afraid that the soldiers 
would come and take away their dear little boy. 
Whenever they heard that the soldiers were near 
they would hush him to sleep and keep him out of 
sight. But when he was three months old and was 
growing very fast, they could not keep him hidden in 
the house any longer, and they were troubled about 
what they should do with him. 

"We will have to find some way," said the mother 
to Miriam. " W T hat shall we do ? " They thought a 
while, and Jochebed said to Miriam : " Go and bring 
me some of the rushes from the river bank. ' ' When 
Miriam brought the heavy green rushes that grew at 
the edge of the water, they began to weave them 
together until they had made a little cradle-boat. 
Then they painted it and filled up the cracks so that 
not a drop of water could get in. They lined it with 
soft red cloth, and put in a little pillow. It was just 
the right size and he soon got used to his queer little 
cradle-boat. The next morning they took him to the 
river and placed the boat in the water, hiding it 
among the rushes. 

Moses' mother and Miriam knew that every day 
the beautiful princess who lived in the palace came 
down to the river to bathe. They knew that the 



Happy Home Life 3 

princess loved little children, and thought that per- 
haps she might see the baby boy in the cradle and 
take care of him. When they saw that the boat was 
quite safe they moved away. The mother turned 
back home, but Miriam hid where she could watch 
for the princess. 

Presently she saw her coming. Some friends 
came with her to bathe in the river. Her dark- 
skinned slaves and maidens followed behind. The 
princess and her friends were all laughing and sing- 
ing so they did not notice Miriam behind the trees as 
they passed by. But going near the river, they saw 
the strange-looking cradle, and the princess cried : 
" What is this ?" One of her slaves ran down and 
drew the little boat to the shore. Then the princess 
stooped and picking the baby up, she folded him in 
her arms and hushed him, for he was crying. 

Miriam watched from her hiding-place. " I won- 
der what they will do with him! " she thought. And 
when she saw the princess speaking kindly to the 
baby and the others crowding about, she listened and 
heard the princess say : " This is one of the Hebrew 
children." The baby was still crying, so Miriam 
left her hiding-place and, approaching the 'princess, 
bowed herself low down to the ground and cried : 
' ' Shall I run and call a nurse from among the 
Hebrew women, that she may take care of the child 
for thee ? " The beautiful princess thought a minute. 
She knew that the king had commanded that all 
such children should be put to death. But as she 
looked into the black eyes of the baby boy, she 
turned to Miriam and said: "Yes, go and bring me 



A Beginners 1 Course 



"«£> 



a nurse." Miriam gladly ran to her mother and 
cried to her: "Come, mother; the princess wa"nts 
thee ! ' ' 

When Jochebed came, the princess said to her : 
" Take this child away and nurse it for me, and I 
will give thee thy wages." Then she gave the baby 
boy to his mother and the little fellow cuddled closely 
to her bosom and quickly stopped his crying. I 
think the princess must have known that it was the 
baby's mother. 

I am sure Miriam must have clapped her hands 
for joy as they carried the baby back home. After 
that, they did not need to hide the little fellow 
any more, and every little while Miriam would take 
him to see the princess, and then bring him back 
again. 

This is the way Miriam helped her mother. 

3. Transition. 

What was the name of the baby boy ? What was 
his sister's name? Why did they hide the baby? 
What did they make to put him in ? How did they 
make it ? Where did they hide him ? Who found 
the baby ? How did she come to find him ? What 
became of the baby ? How did Miriam help ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

The Sand-tray. When the children have given 
back to the teacher the story of Miriam and her baby 
brother, she can draw forward the sand-tray, loosely 
piled with newly damped sand. The children can 
then assist her in forming with the sand a small por- 



Happy Home Life 



tion of the river and its banks. She should have a 
tiny paper boat, some green rushes, grass, or some- 
thing else that will represent the bulrushes. These the 
children can help her to plant upon the banks and in 
the river-bed- During this occupation the teacher 
should allow the children to talk freely about the 
story and so give expression to their ideas. 

Physical. If the teacher has no sand-tray, or if there 
is time for both, she can have the children imitate 
some of the physical activities of Miriam. For ex- 
ample : caring for the baby in the home, rocking him 
to sleep, gathering the bulrushes, weaving the cradle, 
placing the baby in the water, watching from her 
hiding-place, clapping her hands for joy that the baby 
is safe, carrying the baby to visit the princess, etc , etc. 

Picture 

The Finding of Moses, by Delaroche. 

Blackboard 




6 A Beginners Course 

Sketch the hills, the river, and the palace in which 
the princess lived . Put in the rushes and a few palm- 
trees. Represent the princess and her companions 
coming toward the river and Miriam and Jochebed 

by strokes. 

Memory Gem 

This is the mother, so busy at home, 

Who loves her dear children, whatever may come. 

This is the father, so brave and strong, 
Who works for his family all the day long. 

This is the brother, who'll soon be a man ; 
He helps his good mother as much as he can. 

This is the sister, so gentle and mild, 
Who plays that the dolly is her little child. 

This is the baby, all dimpled and sweet, 

How soft his wee hands and his chubby, pink feet ! 

Father, and mother, and children so dear, 
Together you see them, one family here. 



Lesson 2 
Respect for Parents (Jer. 35 : 10 ; Eph. 6 : 1-4). 

Golden Text : Honor thy father and thy mother 
(Exod. 20 : 12). 

Result Sought : 

Respect for parents shown by loving deeds. 

Suggestions to Teachers : 

It is a matter of great regret that the material 
for one of the first lessons for the second year should 



Happy Home Life 7 

be so unfortunately chosen. The story is quite out- 
side the little child's plane of experience. Moreover, 
the lesson intended to be taught from the context is 
unnatural and forced. We desire to follow out as 
nearly as possible the course outlined by the Com- 
mittee, but in this case we think there is only one 
course to take — to omit it altogether. 

One of the best sources of lesson material for the 
teaching of little children is nature, and nature 
stories are often found the most helpful. From this 
source we have chosen the substituted lesson story 
for the day. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many persons live in your home ? How 
many brothers have you ? How many sisters ? 
Who else lives in your home ? 

Continue in this way a short conversation about 
the members of the family, and so ' lead up to the 
following story of " Father Time and his Children." 

2. Lesson Story. 

There once lived an old man whose name was 
Time, and he had four children, two boys and two 
girls. The boys' names were Winter and Autumn, 
and the girls' names were Spring and Summer. 

Now, Father Time was very fond of his boys and 
girls, and he was always doing something to make 
them happy, but he believed that it was best for 
children to have some work to do, and not to play 
all the time. So he told Winter, who was the oldest, 



8 A Beginners' Course 

that he should expect him to look after the snow and 
the ice, North Wind and Jack Frost. 

Winter was delighted with his work, for he was 
very fond of the snow, and North Wind and Jack 
Frost were particular friends of his, and many a 
merry time these three had together after their work 
was done. One of the things that they loved very 
much to do was to freeze over the rivers and ponds, 
so that the boys and girls might have skating. 

Summer, Winter's, eldest sister, had a great deal 
to do, for she had all of the flowers and vegetables 
to care for, but it was a pleasure for her to take care 
of the flowers, because she loved them so much. 
She would coax the sun to shine warmly and the 
rain to fall softly upon them. Then the little flowers 
would lift their he ids, and when the morning breeze 
passed them by they would give him their very 
sweetest perfume, which was their way of saying 
thank you. 

Spring was the little baby sister, and every one 
loved her very much, because she was always so 
happy and glad. 

One day Father Time told Spring that she might 
take care of the little seeds that were lying fast 
asleep in the ground, and the buds on the trees. 
Then Spring was happy indeed, because she had been 
afraid that perhaps Father Time might think she 
wasn't old enough to do any work, and she wanted 
very much to help. So she made up her mind to do 
the very best she could ; and she sent the April 
showers to awaken the little seeds, and then she sent 
the sunbeams to help them come to the light ; and 



Happy Home Life g 

the sunbeams and the showers helped the buds to 
blossom. So when the trees were all in bloom, every 
one said that Springtime was the most beautiful time 
of the whole year. 

Autumntime, the youngest brother, was a very 
busy little fellow. He was very fond of bright 
colors, and sometimes wore a scarlet and yellow 
jacket. His work was to help the grains, the fruit, 
and the nuts to ripen. Now Autumn knew that this 
work was very important, and that the farmers 
depended on him for their harvests ; so he said to 
himself: "I'll do the best I can, and Til get the sun 
to help me." The sun was glad to help Autumn 
and they worked very hard together ; so that when the 
harvest time was over, and the farmers had filled their 
barns with the grain and fruit, they found that they 
had enough to last them until Autumn came again. 

Father Time was very much pleased Avith his chil- 
dren's work. They all did so well that he never 
could tell which one did best. 

— Mary Helen Power. 

3. Transition. 

What were the names of Father Time's children ? 
What work did he give Winter to do ? 

With such questions as these the teacher can get 
back from the children the principal thoughts con- 
tained in the story, and so lead up to the 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Yes, Winter had to take care of the 
snow and the ice, North Wind and Jack Frost. I 
wonder if one of our bovs would like to be Winter 



io A Beginners Course 

and choose a North Wind and a Jack Frost. Per- 
haps some of us can make believe we are ponds and 
Winter will send Jack Frost to turn us into ice. Per- 
haps North Wind will blow very hard and help him, 
and Winter might make the rest of us snowflakes 
and send us whirling around and fluttering to the 
ground. Now, when we know quite well what 
Winter has to do, we can be children once more. 

The teacher can then choose a little girl to be 
Summer, others to be flowers, one to be the sun, 
some to be raindrops. The raindrops can come 
and water the flowers, the flowers can grow up and 
lift their heads, etc., etc. In the same way the 
teacher can lead the children to express Spring 
and Autumn. Try to make clear all through that 
the children of Father Time were glad and willing 
to do this service. 



Lesson 3 

Jonathan the Peacemaker (1 Sam. 19: 1-7; 
iThess. 5: 13). 

Golden Text: Blessed are the peacemakers (Matt. 
5: 9). 

Result Sought : 

Development of a peacemaking spirit. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin the lesson by a talk with the children about 
their friends. Who are some of your little friends ? 
When do you play with them ? What do you play ? 



Happy Home Life 1 1 

2 Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about three friends, a king, a 
prince, and a shepherd boy. The king's name was 
Saul, and he and the prince, his son, who was called 
Jonathan, lived together in a beautiful big palace. 

One time a great army of men, armed with swords 
and spears, and bows and arrows, came to fight 
against King Saul and all his people. One of these 
soldiers was a great giant named Goliath, and there 
was no one brave enough to fight him, until one 
day the shepherd boy came from the country where 
he had been taking care of his sheep. He was 
a great, tall lad with ruddy cheeks and fair curling 
hair. 

When he killed the great giant with nothing but a 
tiny stone in a shepherd's sling, the king sent for 
him. At first he did not know him, but he soon 
remembered him to be the lad David who had lived 
at the castle before he went back home to be a shep- 
herd boy, and used to amuse him by softly play- 
ing sweet tunes upon his harp. The king was 
pleased, and took the brave shepherd boy again to 
the castle, to live with him and Jonathan the prince. 
David had not forgotten, and now, whenever the 
king felt tired or ill, he spent long hours playing 
tunes and singing songs of every kind. 

David and Jonathan the prince became great 
friends. Sometimes they took their bows and arrows 
and went out all day long shooing together. At 
other times they took their swords and spears and 
went out to fight the strange soldiers who still 
bothered the people. 



12 A Beginners' Course 

At last Prince Jonathan and David grew to love 
one another so well that they promised to be friends 
all their lives long. So they were all very happy, until 
one time David did something which made the king 
angry, and there was a quarrel. Then Prince Jonathan 
was very sorrowful. He sought David and said : ' My 
friend, thou canst not stay here. Go and hide in the 
field, for the king my father is angry and may kill 
thee." David thanked Jonathan and fled to hide. 

The next morning when the king was walking out 
of doors with bent head and a frowning face, Jonathan 
joined him and said: "My father, why art thou 
angry with my friend David ? He doth not wish to 
harm thee. He hath always helped us fight the ene- 
mies. Dost thou forget how he slew the giant 
Goliath ? Dost thou forget the sweet tunes that he hath 
played to thee ? I pray thee, put away thine anger. " 
As the king listened, the frown began to leave his face, 
and at last he said to the prince : "Yes, I was wrong 
to be angry with David. I will not kill him." 

Then Jonathan hurried to the place where David 
was hidden and told him the good news, and they 
returned together to the king. Thus Jonathan made 
peace and the king and the shepherd boy were 
friends once more. 

3. Transition. 

What was the name of the king ? What was his 
son's name? Who came to live in the palace with 
them ? What, happened one day to make everybody 
very unhappy ? How did it all end ? Who made 
peace between David and the king ? 



Happy Home Life 13 

-. 
4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Give the children each a small blackboard and a 
piece of chalk, or if these are unobtainable, give 
them pieces of white cardboard or paper, and lead- 
pencils. Tell them that they may draw the things that 
they have heard about in the story just told. Give 
them five or ten minutes in which to do this. In 
this exercise allow the children to have perfect free- 
dom. Do not direct them in any way. If the teacher 
cares to carry home the drawings thus made, she will 
not only find them very amusing, but will probably 
get a new insight into the individual character of each 
child and learn how perfectly or imperfectly the child 
has interpreted her teaching. 

Picture 

David Playing before Saul, by Schopin. 



Lesson 4 
Kindness to Guests (2 Kings 4 : 8=13 ; Heb. 13 : 2). 

Golden Text: Preferring one another (Rom. 12 : 10). 

Result Sought: 

A spirit of kindness. 

Lesson Taught: 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Prepare for the lesson by a talk with the children 
about playing visiting, or tea-party, or something of 
the kind. By questioning bring out the fact that 
special preparations are made when visitors are 



14 A Beginners' Course 

expected, and that the best we have we give to our 
friends. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about a woman who had a 
beautiful house and who entertained a visitor. 

This good woman lived in a place called Shunem 
One day there came to her town a man named 
Elisha. He did not wear fine clothes ; he looked 
poor and even hungry, but she knew that he was a 
good man and went about doing kind things for 
people. We would have called him a minister ; she 
called him a prophet. When this good woman saw 
Elisha, she sent to him this message: "Wilt thou 
not come in and eat bread with us ? " Elisha thanked 
her and went into the fine home and, laying aside his 
cloak and staff, sat down to eat with her and her 
husband. When he was going away, the good 
woman said to him: "Come and visit us again. 
We will make thee very welcome here." 

After this Elisha had to go to Shunem very often. 
Sometimes he took his young servant Gehazi with 
him, and each time that he passed he went in to see 
the good woman and her husband. So they soon 
became fast friends. 

One day the woman said to her husband : " Hus- 
band, we must have a place where our visitor Elisha 
can sleep, so that when he comes to visit us he can 
stay all night and rest. He is a great and good man. 
We must make a room for him." So they sent for 
the workmen, and on top of the house they built a 
beautiful little room where Elisha could stay. When 



Happy Home Life 1 5 

it was all finished they put in one corner a bed, in 
the middle a table, and on the table a little candle- 
stick with a candle to give Elisha light at night-time. 
There was a little stool, too, over by the window. 
The next time Elisha came to visit, he found this 
lovely little room waiting for him. That day he was 
tired and was glad to have such a nice place to rest. 
He thought to himself : ' ' How kind this good woman 
is to me. I wonder how I can show her how grate- 
ful I am." Then he told Gehazi, his servant : " Call 
the good woman of this house ; I wish to speak with 
her." When she came to him, he said : " Thou hast 
been very kind to me. Thou hast built me this 
beautiful room and put into it the bed and the table 
and the stool and the candlestick. Tell me, I pray 
thee, what I can do for thee to show thee how grate- 
ful I am. Shall I speak to the king or to the captain 
of the soldiers, that they may do some great thing 
for thee ?' ' But the woman said : "I thank my lord, 
but I need nothing," and went away. When she 
had gone Elisha said to Gehazi : " What can we do ? 
She hath all that she needeth. ' ' Then Gehazi said : 
"Verily, although she hath so many beautiful things, 
she hath no little child." Elisha said: "Go, call 
her again. ' • The good woman stood before him and 
he said to her : " I will ask the heavenly Father to 
send thee a baby boy." And sure enough, God 
heard the good man's prayer and sent into her home 
for her very own a beautiful baby boy. 

3. Transition. 

Who did the good woman of Shunem invite to her 



i6 



A Beginners' Course 



house one day ? How often did Elisha visit her after 
that ? How did she show him that she liked to have 
him come often to see her ? How did Elisha thank 
her for her kindness ? 



4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Blocks. Give each of the children some blocks. 
Let them each build under your direction a very 
simple little house, the house of the good woman 
of Shunem. When it is quite finished, let them add 
the little room on top for Elisha. 

Drawing. If it is difficult to obtain blocks for 
building, let the children draw, either on the little 
blackboards or paper, their own ideas of the story. 

Picture 

Elisha Going to His Room. 

Blackboard 













jyU 






















=E^ 


^^^^7^-^^ 


■ 








UNSELFISHNESS 

Golden Text for Lessons 5 and 6: Christ also 
pleased not himself (Rom. 15:3). 



Lesson 5 
Abraham and Lot (Gen. 13 : 1=9). 

Result Sought : 

Unselfish actions. 

Lesson Taught : 

.1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many have ever seen a flock of sheep ? 
Where did you see it ? What is the man called who 
takes care of sheep ? How many ever saw a shep- 
herd ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time there were two shepherds travel- 
ing together. One was named Abraham, the other, 
Lot. Abraham was an old man with a long white 
beard. Lot was Abraham's nephew and was 
younger. These two were good friends and they 
had traveled a long way together. They had with 
them not only their wives and sons and daughters, 
but also all of their sheep, and the servants and dogs 
who looked after the sheep. Such a lot of them 
there were ! They made such a long procession that 
it was hard to see the end of it. 

17 



1 8 A Beginners Course 

At last they came to a stopping-place and pitched 
their tents. There were a great many tents, about a 
hundred, I should think. Here they meant to live 
for a good while. But when summer came and the 
weather got very warm, the grass and water for the 
sheep became very scarce. Sometimes Abraham's 
sheep had to be taken for water to the same well with 
Lot's sheep, and at such times the sheep often got 
mixed up, and the servants did not know which sheep 
belonged to Abraham and which to Lot. Then they 
began to quarrel and fight. Sometimes, too, they 
quarreled about the pastures where the sheep got the 
grass. 

All this made everybody very unhappy, and at 
last Abraham said to Lot : " We must put an end to 
this wretched quarreling." He and Lot were out 
upon a high hill that day. They could see ever so 
far over the land. Abraham pointed to the brown 
hills on one side and to the green pastures with the 
shady trees and the beautiful river on the other side. 
"See," he said, "there is surely room enough for us 
both in all this land. Take thy flocks and go thy 
way. We must not quarrel one with the other, so 
the best way will be to separate." Then Abraham, 
although he was the elder and had the right to choose 
first, told Lot : ' ' Choose which thou wilt. I will 
take the other. Wilt thou have the land there with 
the green pastures, or the brown hills yonder ? ' ' 
Lot answered: "I will take the green pastures." 
He knew that was the best, and Abraham let him 
have it for he was unselfish. So the quarrel was 
settled. 



Unselfishness 1 9 

3. Transition. 

What were the names of the two men who were 
traveling together ? Why did they have such a big 
procession when they were traveling? What hap- 
pened when they had pitched their tents and were all 
living together ? How did Abraham settle the quarrel ? 

4 Expression of Lesson Story. 

Sand-tray. Have the sand in the tray damped 
and ready for moulding. Gather the children around 
it and let them, in turn, or in some orderly manner, 
help you to mold the country in which Abraham 
and Lot were traveling ; its hills and plains, river, 
green pastures, trees, etc. Have sticks or shepherds' 
crooks to stand for Abraham and Lot ; also little 
tents and some papers to represent the sheep. Prac- 
tically go over the whole story in this way with 
the children, moving the tents and sheep, etc., to 
show how they traveled, encamped, and separated. 

Picture 

Abraham Journeying into Canaan, by Dore. 

Blackboard 




20 A Beginners Course 



<b 



Memory Gem 

Learn the law of holy love 
Sweet and kind and true ; 

Do to others as you would 
They should do to you. 



Lesson 6 
Ruth and Naomi (Ruth i : 1=22). 

Golden Text: Christ also pleased not himself (Rom. 
15 : 3). 

Result Sought : 

Thoughtful ness for others. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story - 

Did you ever say good-by to some one who was 
going far away ? Tell me about it. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about some one who had to say 
good-by to her friends. There lived long ago in the 
little village of Bethlehem a woman whose name was 
Naomi. She had a husband, two sons, and many 
friends. They were all very happy together until a 
great famine came to the land, and they could not 
get enough to eat. At last they said good-by to 
their friends in Bethlehem, and went off to a far- 
away country called Moab. 

Here there was plenty to eat, and by and by the 
two sons were married. The wife of one was named 
Ruth, and the wife of the other was named Orpah. 



Unselfishness 2 1 

For about ten years they lived together in Moab, until 
Naomi's husband and her two sons died, and Naomi 
and Ruth and Orpah were left alone. 

Naomi was getting old now and longed to see her 
home and the old friends she had left there. News 
had come to her that there was now plenty of food in 
Bethlehem. So one day she said to Ruth and 
Orpah : "I must return to Bethlehem " Ruth and 
Orpah were very sorry to hear this, for they loved 
their mother-in-law ; especially Ruth, who wept, and 
said: " Take us with you. We will not let you go 
alone." But Naomi shook her head. " Nay," she 
said, ' ' ye would not be happy in Bethlehem, so far 
away from your own land. I will go alone." Then 
Ruth and Orpah said : • ' We will at least go part of 
the way with thee." So one morning they all started 
off. It was a beautiful day and the two girls walked 
a long way with Naomi. When they came to the 
foot of a long hill Naomi said : "Now, my daughters, 
turn again and go back home. " But they could not 
bear to say good-by, and wept when she kissed 
them, and said : " We will not leave thee. Let us go 
with thee. ' ' Naomi replied : ' ' Nay, my daughters, 
but return to your homes. I am getting old, it is 
true, but I can take care of myself and I will not 
take ye away from your friends." 

At last Orpah turning away said : ' ' Come, Ruth, 
we will go back." But Ruth, who was kind and 
unselfish, thought, ' ' I love my mother-in-law, 
Naomi, and I cannot allow her to take that long 
journey all alone. I will go with her." So she put 
her arms about Naomi and said : "I will go with 



22 A Beginners Course 

thee to thy country ; I will not leave thee." Naomi 
said: "See! Orpah has gone back; return thou 
with her." But Ruth clung to her and said : " Nay, 
but I will go with thee ; thy friends shall be my 
friends, and I will live with thee and care for thee as 
long as thou shalt live." So together they went to 
Naomi's country. 

3. Transition. 

Why did Naomi leave her home in Bethlehem ? 
What were the names of the two girls she loved ? 
What did she tell them one day that made them 
very sorry ? What did they want to do ? What did 
Orpah do ? What did Ruth do ? 

4. Expression of the Lesson Story. 
Drawing. Let the children draw on the little 

blackboards, or on paper, their ideas of the story. 

Picture 

Ruth and Naomi, by Calderon. 

Blackboard 




GOD'S GOODNESS 

Golden Text for Lessons 7 to 12 : God shall 
supply every need of yours (Phil. 4 : 19). 



Lesson 7 
God's Care for Ishmael (Gen. 21 : 12=20). 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of God's care. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Were you ever very hungry ? Thirsty ? Did you 
ever see any very poor person who was hungry, or 
thirsty, or who had no home ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about a boy and his mother 
who got lost, and were hungry and thirsty. This 
boy's name was Ishmael. Ishmael and his mother, 
Hagar, lived in the home of a man called Abraham, 
but a day came when they could stay with Abraham 
no longer. Abraham was sorry to have them go 
away, and he gave them some lunch and a bottle 
of water to take with them. 

It was a hot day, and the roads were dusty when 
they started on their journey. They walked and 
walked a long, long while over the hot sand and the 
hills, until they were very tired. m They were not only 

23 



24 A Beginners' Course 

very tired but very lonesome, for they were far away 
from their friends, and did not know where they were 
going to find another home. At last they lay down 
beneath a tree, and the mother covered the boy over 
with her cloak, and he slept. 

Early in the morning they were awake, and after 
they had eaten some of the bread and drank some 
of the water, they started again on their journey. By 
and by they got away from the road and soon found 
themselves traveling across a wild and lonely desert 
place. They tried to find their way back again but 
could not, and then they discovered that they were 
quite lost. Ishmael said : " I cannot go any farther, 
mother, I am so tired." The mother, Hagar, was 
tired also, and, as it was getting dark, they ate the 
rest of the bread and drank the water that was left 
in the bottle, and once more lay down to rest until 
the morning. 

When the bright sun began to rise they awoke. 
There was no breakfast for them, but they arose and 
again tried to find their way back to the road. They 
went this way and that way, but soon became hot 
and tired. At last their heads ached so that they 
could go no further. The mother saw that if she 
could not soon get some water for Ishmael he would 
surely die. So she laid him down in the shade of a 
tree and sought everywhere for a spring of water, 
but could find none. It made her heart very 
sad to hear Ishmael asking her for water when she 
had none to give him. 

But the heavenly Father heard Ishmael crying for 
water and he sent an angel to help them. When 



God" s Goodness 25 

the angel came he said : ' * Fear not, Hagar, for God 
hath heard the voice of the lad. Arise, go to him. 
Lift him up. The Father in heaven will take care 
of Ishmael." Then he led her to a beautiful, 
cool spring of water. How delighted Hagar was to 
see it ! She brought some to Ishmael and he w r as 
lefreshed. Then, when she, too, had quenched her 
thirst and filled the bottle, they went on their way, 
guided by the angel. Soon they came to some 
friends who were very kind to them. After a while 
they made a new home, and Ishmael grew strong 
and tall until by and by he was able to take care 
of his mother and himself. 

3. Transition. 

What happened to Ishmael and his mother when 
they went to look for a new home ? How did they 
get water at last ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children express the story by free drawing 

in the usual way. 

Picture 

Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert, by Liska. 
Blackboard 




26 A Beginners Course 

Memory Gem 

Little modest violet blue, 
Spangled o'er with morning dew, 
Laughing in the sportive air, 
God has made thy leaves so fair ; 
Little lambs that skip and play 
In the meadow fresh and gay, 
God protects you by his care, 
He has made you bright and fair. 

Little star, with twinkling eye, 
God has placed thee in the sky; 
Little bird, with golden wing, 
God has taught thee how to sing ; 
Little clouds, that lightly rest 
On the bosom of the west, 
Floating in the summer air, 
God has made your form so fair. 

Little, merry, laughing child, 

Ever playful, ever wild, 

Full of gladness, full of love, 

God has made thee, God above ; 

He thy happy spirit keeps, 

For he never, never sleeps. 

When thy life on earth is past, 

He will take thee home at last. 

(From Sunday Songs for Little Singers, published by the 
London Sunday School Union, London, England.) 



Lesson 8 
God's Care for Elijah (i Kings 17: 8=16). 

Golden Text : God shall supply every need of 
yours (Phil. 4 : 19). 



God's Goodness 27 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of God's care. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Introduce to-day's story by a brief review of last 
week's lesson and a few questions, such as the fol- 
lowing : Boys and girls, what did you have for break- 
fast this morning ? Did you have plenty to eat yes- 
terday ? Is there plenty of water to drink in your 
house ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there lived a 
little boy and his mother who were so poor that they 
had hardly anything to eat or drink in the house. 
In the country where they lived food was very scarce, 
so scarce that nobody had any to sell. They could 
not get even enough water to drink. The reason for 
this was that for a long time there had not been any 
rain, and consequently nothing would grow. The 
oxen and the sheep had nearly all died, and the 
people were starving. 

One day the mother said : "All we have left to 
eat is a little bit of meal and some oil." Showing it 
to her boy, she said : " My son, let us go and gather 
sticks that we may make a fire and cook our last 
food." Then together they went out to the gate of 
the city to search for the sticks. As they were gath- 
ering the wood they saw a man coming along. He 
had a woolly mantle and carried a thick staff. When 
he came near he saluted the woman and said: 



28 A Beginners Course 

"Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water that I may 
drink." The woman saw that he was a prophet, 
God's messenger, and that he had come a long way 
and was tired and thirsty, so she turned to do as he 
asked. As she went, he spoke again : " Bring me also, 
I pray thee, a morsel of bread.' ' But the woman said : 
"Alas ! I have nothing in the house but a handful of 
meal and a little oil, and I am gathering these sticks 
that I may cook it for myself and my son." 

Then Elijah, for that was the man's name, said to 
her : "Fear not. The heavenly Father is watching 
over thee. He hath sent me to tell thee that if thou 
wilt allow me to stay here thou shalt not want. There 
will always be oil in the cruse and meal in the meal 
barrel. Therefore go now, bake thy cake, and let 
us all eat of it. Thou wilt soon see how kind and 
good the heavenly Father is, and how well he can 
take care of us all during this famine time." 

Then Elijah went back with the woman and her 
little son. And the woman baked a cake for Elijah and 
afterwards baked one for herself and her son. They 
all ate together and were satisfied. Elijah stayed at 
their house for many days, until at last God sent rain 
to the earth once more, and in all that time none of 
them had to go hungry even once. 

3. Transition. 

Why did the poor woman and her little boy go out 
to the gate of the city ? Who came along while they 
were there ? What did he ask the woman to do for 
him ? What did she say ? How did the heavenly 
Father take care of them all ? 



God' s Goodness 



29 



4. Expression of the Lesson Story. 

Sand-tray. Upon the sand-tray build with blocks 
the city gate. Form the road back over the hills, and 
with sticks to stand for the woman, her son, and the 
prophet, represent the meeting between them. Then 
picture how the prophet went back through the city 
gates with the mother and son. At this- point ask the 
children if they would not like to build for themselves 
the little house where the widow and the little boy and 
Elijah lived. Provide each child with blocks and 
let each build a simple little house, either under your 
direction or according to his own ideas, as you may 

think best. 

Picture 

The Widow and Her Son Gathering Sticks. 
Blackboard 




Lesson 9 

God's Care for Daniel (Dan. 6 : 1=23). 

Golden Text: God shall supply every need of yours 
(Phil. 4:19). 



30 A Beginners' Course 

Result Sought: 

Consciousness of God's care. 

Lesson Taught : 

i. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever see a lion ? Tell me what it looked 
like. What did it do while you watched it ? How 
near did you go to it ? 

If the children have never seen a lion they have 
doubtless seen a picture of one, and some questions 
bearing on its appearance will make a good prepara- 
tion for the lesson story. 

2. Lesson Story. 

I have a wonderful story to tell you to-day about 
Prince Daniel. This is the same Prince Daniel we 
have heard about before. Do you remember how 
when he lived in the king's house he would not eat 
the very rich things at the king's table because he 
knew that they were not good for him. and because 
he knew that his mother and father in the far-away 
land would not wish him to eat them. 

Daniel loved the heavenly Father and every day 
used to kneel near his window in the beautiful house 
that the king had given him, to thank him for his 
loving care. Now there were some people who did 
not like Prince Daniel, so they asked the king to 
make a law which they knew Daniel would not like. 
This law said that anyone who prayed to any God or 
asked anything of any man for thirty long days 
would be cast into the den of lions. When Daniel 
heard about this he was very sorry, for he liked the 



God's Goodness 31 

king, and did not want to offend him, but he said to 
himself: "I will not stop praying to the heavenly 
Father." 

One day some of the men who did not like Prince 
Daniel were passing by and saw him praying. They 
hurried and told the king about it. Then the king 
was vexed that he had made that law, for he loved 
Prince Daniel. He did all he could to save him, 
but he could not change the law. He went to 
Daniel and said : " Daniel, I cannot save thee, but 
thy God will take care of thee in the den of lions." 
So they put Prince Daniel into the den and put a 
great stone at the mouth of the den so that he could 
not get out. It was so dark at first in the den that 
Daniel could hardly see, but as he looked about 
him he could make out the big shaggy beasts com- 
ing towards him. He could hear their growls as 
they came nearer, and I am sure he must have been 
very much frightened, for he knew they were fierce, 
hungry lions. But presently the lions stopped growl- 
ing and simply stood still and looked at Daniel with 
their big, bright eyes. And will you believe it, they 
did not try to harm him at all ! The heavenly 
Father kept their mouths shut tight, and although 
Daniel was in the den all night he was quite safe. 
Very early in the morning, even before the sun was 
up, he heard a noise near the mouth of the den. It 
was the king, come to see if Daniel was still alive. 
Daniel heard him call : " Daniel ! O Prince Daniel ! 
hath thy God taken care of thee in the den of 
lions?" Daniel answered: "O king, live for 
ever ! My God hath shut the lions' mouths, and they 



32 A Beginners Course 

have not hurt me." Then the king was very joyful, 
and had Daniel taken out of the den at once, and 
there was no hurt of any kind found upon him. 

3. Transition. 

How did they come to put Prince Daniel into the 
den of lions ? Was Daniel hurt ? Why was he not 
harmed by the lions ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. Let the children picture out their idea 
of the story upon paper or small blackboards. 

Picture 

Daniel in the Lion's Den, by Riviere. 



Lesson 10 
God's Care for Peter (Acts 12 : 1=17). 

Golden Text : God shall supply every need of yours 
(Phil. 4: 19)- 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of God's care. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Were you ever shut up in a room by yourself? 
How did it happen? Why couldn't you open the 
door ? How did you feel ? What did you do ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about a man named Peter, who 



God's Goodness 33 

was shut up in a dark room in prison, and how the 
heavenly Father took care of him. This Peter 
was a great friend of Jesus. Jesus had gone to his 
home in heaven, and now Peter was trying to help 
people by doing the same kind things that Jesus had 
done while he was on earth. But there was a wicked 
king living at that time, who was a cruel man and 
hated the friends of Jesus, and tried to do them all 
the harm he could. 

One day he sent his soldiers to arrest Peter. They 
came with their shining helmets and long spears and 
took him to prison, and after they had led him 
through the big iron gates in the wall, they put him 
into a small dark room in the inner prison. As they 
closed the heavy doors they said to one another : 
" He will never be able to get out of there." But 
to make quite sure that he could not escape, they 
put two soldiers into the room with him. They put 
chains on his hands and fastened the other end of 
each chain to the hand of one of the soldiers. 
" Now certainly he will not be able to escape," they 
said, and soon they went off to sleep. 

The king meant to keep Peter in the prison for a 
while and then put him to death. I am sure Peter 
was afraid that night that he would never see his 
friends again. He thought of his home and of his 
children, and he knew how sorry they would all be 
because he was not with them. "How can I escape ? " 
thought Peter. "I amchained to these soldiers. If 
I move they will know it. And even if I could get 
away from them, the door is shut tightly, and the 
locks are so big and strong I never could open them." 



34 A Beginners Course 

He knew that other soldiers were guarding the door 
on the outside, and he was sure that he never would 
be able to climb over the big iron gates in the wall 
through which they had brought him in. 

Peter had been in prison a good many days and 
nights, when one of the soldiers told him that soon, 
perhaps the very next day, the king was going to 
put him to death. But that same night, as he was 
sleeping between the two soldiers who guarded him, 
Peter was awakened by a bright light shining into 
the room. He felt a touch on the shoulder and it 
wakened him. As soon as he opened his eyes, he 
saw standing before him an angel, dressed in white, 
shining garments. He was a beautiful angel and had 
such a kind face that Peter knew he had come to 
help him. Just then the angel spoke softly to him 
and said: "Arise quickly." Peter thought of the 
chains that were on his wrists and feared that he 
would awaken the sleeping guards. But when he 
looked, the chains had fallen off, for the angel had 
quietly unlocked them, and the soldiers were still 
fast asleep. " Put on thy coat," the angel said, "and 
thy shoes upon thy feet. Put also thy cloak about 
thy shoulders. " Peter did so. Then said the angel : 
"Come, follow me." Peter wondered about the 
locked door and the big iron gate, but he followed the 
angel. The guards were all sleeping, and when the 
angel touched the great iron gate it opened of its 
own accord, and they went out together. 

As soon as Peter was free the angel left him. 
Peter rubbed his eyes in astonishment. " Is it a 
dream ? " he said, but when he found himself wide 



God's Goodness 35 

awake and outside of the prison, he said : (t Now I 
know what has happened. The heavenly Father 
has sent his angel and has delivered me out of the 
hand of the king/' Then he ran quickly and came 
to the home of one of his friends. When he knocked 
at the door a little maid named Rhoda came. In- 
stead of opening it, she asked: "Who is there?" 
and when she heard Peter's voice she was so glad 
that she clapped her hands and ran to tell the others 
without even stopping to let him in. When she 
told them they said : "No, you must be mistaken." 
But she cried : " Oh, I am sure it is Peter ! " Then 
they said: "Perhaps it is his angel." But Peter 
continued knocking, and when they opened the door 
they saw him, and were amazed. Then Peter said : 
" Listen, I will tell you how the heavenly Father has 
taken care of me. " So he told them how the angel 
had come and how the chains had slipped off, and 
the doors had swung open, and he had been set free 
Then he left his friends and went away quickly to 
a place where the cruel king would not be able to 
find him. 



3. Transition. 

What was the name of Jesus' friend whom the 
soldiers put in prison ? What did they do to him 
to make sure that he would not escape ? What 
happened one night in the prison when every- 
one was sleeping ? Where did Peter go when the 
angel left him ? Who sent the angel to take care 
of Peter ? 



36 A Beginners' Course 



£> 



4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Give each child a certain number of blocks. Let 
them build under your direction a very simple little 
prison. In order to have the result the same in every 
case, the children should add each separate block 
according to your dictation and the one which you 
will build with them. 

Picture 

Liberation of St. Peter, by Raphael. 



Lesson 11 
God's Care for Us (Psa. 23 : 1=6). 

Golden Text : God shall supply every need of yours 
(Phil. 4 : 19). 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of God's care. 

Suggestions to the Teacher : 

While the central idea of the Twenty-third Psalm, 
" I shall not want," has been taken as the basis for 
the lesson of the day, yet the analogy of the shep- 
herd's care has not been wrought into the lesson. 
This for two good reasons : 

I. Because the young child does not think in 
analogies. He will not be likely to see the likeness 
between the shepherd's care of the sheep and God's 
care of him. His mind does not work like the mind 
of an adult and the truth must be presented from a 
child's point of view. 



Gad's Goodness 2>7 

2. In a few weeks we shall have the lesson of 
Jesus' Story of the Lost Sheep, and want to preserve 
its freshness until that time. 

Lesson Taught : 

i. Preparation for Lesson Story. 
What did you have for breakfast this morning ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Yes, you had milk. Where did your mama get the 
milk that she gave you ? Where did the milkman 
get it ? Who made the cows that give us the sweet, 
rich milk ? Some one had eggs for breakfast. Where 
did mama get the eggs ? Where did the grocer get 
them ? Where did the farmer find them ? Who 
ever saw some eggs in a nest ? How many were 
there ? How did they get there ? Who gives us the 
hens which lay us the big, white eggs ? What else 
did you have for breakfast ? Bread ? Where did 
mama get the bread ? But where did the baker get 
the bread ? What did he bake it with ? Where did 
he get the flour ? How did the miller get the flour ? 
What did he grind it from ? Where did he get the 
wheat to grind ? Where did the farmer get the 
wheat ? Where did he grow it ? What made it 
grow? Who sent the sunshine and rain to help it 
grow ? 

What did you put on when you set out to come to 
Sunday-school to-day ? Your new dress ? What is 
it made of ? Some kind of wool ? Where did you 
get your new dress ? But where did mama get it ? 
Where did the man in the store get it ? But where 



38 A Beginners' Course 

did the man who made it get the wool to make it 
with ? Who made the wool to grow upon the sheep's 
back ? Who gave you those pretty furs ? Where 
did papa get them ? Where did the fur-man get 
them ? Who made the pretty animals from which 
we get the nice warm furs ? 

What is this Sunday-school room and church 
built with ? Wood and stone ? Where do the men 
get the wood ? Who makes the trees to grow ? 

When we go to drive what pulls us along ? Who 
made the horses ? When we are playing in the 
house what sometimes creeps quietly in to the room 
on soft little paws ? Do you love your kitty ? Who 
made kitty ? Have you a doggie that you love very 
much ? Who made doggies ? Tell me how many 
people live in your home ? Mama and papa ? Brother 
and baby sister ? and grandma ? Who has given us 
our dear mamas and our kind papas to take care of 
us ? Who has sent us our dear little baby sisters and 
brothers ? Who allows us to keep our dear grand- 
mothers and grandfathers with us until they become 
quite old ? 

Who made the beautiful out-of-doors with the sun 
and the grass and the beautiful flowers ? Yes, it is 
the dear heavenly Father that gives us every one of 
these good things. He is always caring for us as he 
cared for little Ishmael and Elijah and David and 
Peter. 

3. Expression of the Lesson Story. 

Modeling. . Give each child a lump of modeling 
clay or plasticene and let him model an egg, a loaf of 



God's Goodness 39 

bread, or some such simple object in connection with 
the lesson. 

Drawing. Failing this, let them draw any of the 
things of which they have been talking. 

Picture 

Two Mothers and their Families, by Gardner. 



Lesson 12 
God's Care for AH Things (Matt. 6 : 25=30). 

Golden Text: God shall supply every need of yours 

(Phil. 4 : 19). 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of God's care. 

Lesson Taught: 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Do you ever go out into the woods to play ? Tell 
me some of the things you see when you go there. 
In response to this question the children will mention 
trees, grass, flowers, birds, bees, etc. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Far down in Mother Earth a tiny seed was sleeping, 
safely wrapped in a warm brown jacket. The little 
seed had been asleep for a long, long time and now 
somebody thought it was time for him to wake up. 
This somebody was an earthworm that lived close 
by. He had been creeping about and found that all 
the seeds in the neighborhood had roused themselves 



40 A Beginners Course 

and were pushing their roots deep down into the 
earth, and lifting their heads up, up through the soil 
into the bright sunshine and fresh air. 

So when the worm saw this little seed still sleeping 
he cried : "Oh, you lazy fellow, wake up ! All the 
seeds are awake and growing, and you have slept 
long enough." 

1 ' But how can I grow or move at all in this tight 
brown jacket ?" said the seed in a drowsy tone. 

"Why, push it off. That's the way the other seeds 
have done; just move about a little and it will 
come off." 

The little seed tried, but the tough jacket wouldn't 
break ; and all the time the worm was telling him 
how happy the other seeds were, now that they had 
lifted their heads into the sunshine. 

" Oh dear, oh dear ! " said the seed, "what shall 
I do ? I can't break this jacket, and I shall never 
see the beautiful sunshine ! Besides I'm so sleepy I 
can't keep awake any longer, " and he fell asleep 
again. 

"The lazy fellow," thought the earthworm ; "but 
it is strange that the other seeds shed their jackets so 
easily. What could have helped them, I wonder ? " 

The little seed slept soundly for a long while, but 
at last he awoke, and found his jacket soft and wet, 
instead of hard and dry, and when he moved about 
it gave way entirely and dropped off. 

Then he felt so warm and happy that he cried : 
" I really believe I am going to grow after all. Who 
could have helped me take off my jacket ? And who 
woke me, I wonder, — for I don't see any one near by.' ' 



God's Goodness 41 

" I woke you," said a soft voice close by. " I'm 
a sunbeam and I came down to wake you, and my 
friends, the raindrops moistened your jacket so that 
you might find it ready to slip off." 

" Oh, thank you," said the seed, " you're all very 
kind. Will you help me to grow into a plant, too ? ' ' 

"Yes," said the sunbeam, "I'll come as often 
as I can to help you, and the raindrops will come too, 
and then, if you work hard, with our help you will 
become a beautiful plant, I am sure." 

" But," said the seed, "how did you know that I 
was sleeping here ? Could you see me ?' ' 

"No," said the sunbeam, "but my Father could 
look down from his home in heaven, and he saw you 
far beneath the earth trying to grow, and he called 
the raindrops to him and said : ' One of my seed 
children is sleeping down there, and he wants to 
grow. Go down and help him, and tell the sun- 
beams to follow you and wake the seed, so that he 
may begin to grow as soon as he will.' " 

" How kind he is !" said the seed. "If he had 
not seen me sleeping here I should have always 
been a brown seed, I suppose. Who is your kind 
Father?" 

" He is your Father, too. He is every one's Father, 
and takes care of everybody. Nothing could live 
without him. ' * 

" How can I thank him ? " said the seed. " What 
can I do that would please him very much ?' ' 

" Grow into just the best plant that you possibly 
can," said the sunbeam. "That will please him 
most of all " 



42 A Beginners Course 

So the seed grew into a beautiful vine, that 
climbed higher and higher towards the heavens, 
from which the Father smiled down upon him to 
reward his labor. 

3. Transition. 

Who was it came to wake up the little brown seed 
one day ? What did the little seed feel like ? Who 
woke him up at last ? What did the sunbeam tell 
him ? Who helps all the little plants to grow ? 
Who helps all the trees to put on their beautiful 
green leaves ? Tell me some more of the things 
that the kind heavenly Father cares for and helps to 
grow. 

As the children mention different flowers, birds, 
bees, animals, etc., dwell a little upon them and 
show in what manner the heavenly Father cares for 
each. 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Choose one child to be the little brown seed which 
is to turn into a vine, allow others to be flowers or 
plants growing , as the children choose for them- 
selves. Still others can be birds, butterflies, animals, 
or anything else you have talked about with them. 
Allow the children for a little time to follow out the 
actions of the different characters which they repre- 
sent ; for example, let the little seed grow up into a 
vine, let the flowers and plants grow higher and 
blossom out, allow the bees to buzz around busily 
and the butterflies to visit the different flowers. The 
birds can sing in the trees or hop about ; squirrels 



God's Goodness 43 

can gather nuts ; little mice can creep about very 
softly, etc. While in this way you allow the children 
freedom to play their respective parts, you must con- 
stantly watch lest they become excited and get be- 
yond control. 

Picture 

Return to the Farm, by Troyon. 



GRATITUDE 

Golden Text for Lessons 13 and 14 : Be ye thank- 
ful (Col. 3 : 15). 

Lesson 13 
A Man Thanking Jesus (Luke 17:11 = 19). 

Result Sought : 

A spirit of gratitude. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

What do we say to people when they pass us 
something at the dinner or supper table ? If some 
person does some kind thing for us, what should we 
say ? 

2. Lesson Story 

Our story to-day is about a man who did not forget 
to say " thank you." This man was called a Samar- 
itan, and he was very ill. He was a leper and lived 
with nine other men who also had leprosy. It was 
a very sad thing to be a leper, because no doctor 
knew how to cure people who were ill with that 
disease. Lepers were not allowed to live in the city 
with the other people. It must have been very lone- 
some for them to leave their brothers and sisters and 
little children and go away off to live by themselves. 

This man and his nine friends lived upon the hills 
outside a little village. One time a man told them 
44 



Gratitude 45 

that there was a kind man named Jesus who could 
cure any one who was ill. " He spends all his time 
helping people," the man said. " If only he would 
come along this way he might cure us," thought the 
lepers. After that they watched for him and waited 
day by day, hoping to hear that he was coming. At 
last some one told them that he really was coming 
to the village. So they hurried down the road and, 
sure enough, they saw him in the distance. They 
ran to meet him, but they did not dare to go close 
to people for fear they would give others their dis- 
ease. They stood off by the side of the road and, 
as he was passing, cried out to him : "Jesus, Master ! 
have mercy on us." Jesus heard the cry, and turn- 
ing saw them. He stood still and looked at them, 
with a great pity in his beautiful eyes ; then he called 
back: "Go and show yourselves unto the priests." 
The lepers turned at once and hurried to the village, 
and even as they went along they felt themselves 
getting better. When they looked at one another 
they found that they were all quite cured. The 
Samaritan's nine friends hurried on to the village to 
show themselves to the priests, but when the Samari- 
tan found that he was really cured, he turned and 
ran back to Jesus, and falling upon his face at his 
feet thanked him for curing him, for making him 
well. 

3. Transition. 

What was the matter with the Samaritan and his 
nine friends ? Where did they live ? Who did they 
hear of one day ? When they heard that Jesus 



4.6 A Beginners Course 

was coming what did they do ? What happened ? 
When he found that he was cured what did the 
Samaritan do ? 

4. Expression of the Lesson Story. 

Sand-tray. Let the children help you to mold the 
country where the lepers lived, the hills, roads, etc., 
and put in the village. Picture the story, laying 
emphasis upon the incident of the Samaritan turning 
back to thank Jesus. Use sticks for the lepers, and 
perhaps a little cross for Jesus. Represent also the 
crowd of people that in all probability were there. 

Picture 

Jesus Healing the Ten Lepers, artist unknown. 

Thank him, thank him, all ye little children, 

He is love ! he is love ! 
Thank him, thank him, all ye little children, 

He is love ! he is love ! 



Lesson 14 
A Lame Man Thanking God (Acts 3: 1=10). 
Golden Text: Be ye thankful (Col. 3 : 15). 

Result Sought : 

A spirit of gratitude. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Do you know any one who is lame ? Can he run 
and jump and play ? Tell me some of the things 
you could not do if you were lame. 



Gratitude 47 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story is about a lame man and how he was cured. 
This man had been lame from the time he was born. 
He had never been able to run or jump or play. 
When he was a boy he could not join in the games 
with the other boys, but had to sit by himself and 
watch them. As he saw the other children playing 
hide-and-seek and tag, he used to say to himself : 
'"I wish I could run ; I wish I could jump." And 
sometimes he would try to stand upon his poor, 
crooked feet, but whenever he did that he hurt them 
so that he fell down and had to lie quite still for a 
long time. If he wanted to go to see any of his friends, 
he had to wait until somebody was ready to carry him ; 
often he could not go at all for there was nobody who 
had time to take him. The worst of it was no doctor 
in all the land could cure him. And then he was 
very poor. Being lame, he could not earn money by 
going errands for people or by working in the gar- 
den as other boys could do. As he grew older, he 
grew even poorer, until at last there was nothing for 
him to do but beg. Every morning some of his 
friends would carry him to the place where the beg- 
gars sat. This was at the gate of the big church. 
People called it the Gate Beautiful. Here numbers 
of beggars were brought every day, for many people 
passed in and out through this gate and sometimes 
they would give something to the poor who sat there. 
.1 am sure the lame man looked into the face of 
every one who passed by. He used to hold out his 
hand and say to one and another: "Wilt thou not 
help a lame man who cannot work ?.' ' And all the 



48 A Be guilders' Course 

time he was saying to himself: " Oh, how I wish I 
were not lame. I would rather work than beg. If 
my feet were strong I would not sit here another 
moment." 

One day two men named Peter and John came to 
the Gate Beautiful. One of them was the same Peter 
who was put in the prison and taken out by the 
angel. Both of them had kindly faces and the lame 
man wondered if they would give him something. 
As they came near, he held out his hand and begged : 
" Give something, I pray thee, to a poor lame man." 
The two men looked with pity on him and the other 
beggars there. They could not give them any 
money, for they were quite poor themselves, but 
Peter stopped and spoke to the lame man : " Silver 
and gold have I none," he said, " but I will help thee 
in another way." "How canst thou help me?" 
asked the lame man, and seeing that Peter was 
looking at his poor lame feet, he added : " Thou 
canst not make my feet strong and well. Oh, if I 
could walk I would not* ask thee for money. I would 
rather have my feet strong than have my hands 
filled with money." 

Even while the man was speaking, Peter stooped 
and took hold of his hand and said : " I say unto thee, 
rise up and walk." The lame man could hardly 
believe that he heard aright. To think that some- 
one should tell him to walk when he had wished all 
his life to do that very thing, but never could ! But 
Peter was helping him up and repeating the words : 
"Rise up and walk!" The next moment he was 
standing up. When he found he could stand upon 



Gratitude 49 

them he was so excited that he began to walk and 
run and jump. He could hardly believe it true that 
he was cured, so he jumped and leaped to make 
quite sure. 

Very soon he remembered the kind man Peter 
who had helped him. He went to him and falling 
on his face before him began to thank him, but Peter 
took him by the hand and led him into the great 
church, and told him not to thank him, but to thank 
the heavenly Father. 

3. Transition. 

What was the matter with the poor man who 
begged at the Gate Beautiful ? Who came along one 
day as he was sitting there ? How did Peter help 
him ? What did the man do ? Who did Peter tell 
him to thank ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Let the children make believe that they 
are lame beggars sitting at the Gate Beautiful. When 
they have been lame a little while let them rise and 
make believe they are cured. A little leaping and 
jumping will not do any harm if the teacher is pre- 
pared for it, and it will help the children to realize a 
little of the joy of the lame man when he found him- 
self cured. Here the teacher can emphasize the 
great helpfulness of Peter's action. 

Picture 

Peter and John at the Gate Beautiful, by Raphael. 



So 



A Beginners' Course 



Blackboard 



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=H 


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HELPFULNESS 

Golden Text for Lessons 15 to 18: Let us do 

good unto all (Gal. 6: 10). 



Lesson 15 
A Little Girl Helping Her Master (2 Kings 5 : 

i=5, 9=14). 
Result Sought: 

Development of a spirit of helpfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin to-day by a talk about the sunbeams. Did 
you ever watch the sunbeams, boys and girls ? Did 
you ever see them come in through the window, and 
shine brightly on the floor ? Can you tell me what 
color they are ? What would the world be like if 
there weren't any sunbeams at all? Did you ever 
know that the lovely flowers would not grow if they 
did not have the sunbeams to help them, and that the 
birds would not feel like singing because it would be 
dark all the time ? I don't believe little boys and 
girls would want to go out to play without the sun- 
beams to help them to see. Just think what a lot 
the sunbeams do for us ! 

2. Lesson Story. 

The story I have for you to-day is about a little 
maiden who was just like one of these little sun- 

51 



52 A Beginners' Course 

beams. This little girl did not live with her father 
and mother. She had been brought far away from 
her home to live in a strange land in the house of a 
great soldier named Naaman, and now she was a 
servant and waited upon the soldier's wife. 

She was a little dark-eyed Jewish maiden, and 
very pretty she looked in her red robe, with her rosy 
cheeks and black hair. The soldier's wife was glad 
to have the little maid to wait upon her. She was 
such a useful little maid ; whenever her mistress 
wished to wash her hands she brought the basin and 

o 

held it for her ; when she wanted to dress her beauti- 
ful hair, the little maid brought the combs and 
helped her. Sometimes she even dressed it for her 
When the sun shone so brightly in that eastern land 
that her mistress felt hot and tired, she would get the 
feather fan with the long handle, and, standing be- 
hind her mistress' chair, fan her until she was re- 
freshed. She was very happy in her beautiful home 
and grew to love her kind mistress and her master. 
Nothing made her happier than to be helping them. 
But sometimes it was difficult to make her mistress 
happy, for she had a great trouble. Her husband, 
the soldier, suffered from the dreadful disease of 
leprosy, and there was no one in that land who 
could cure him. 

One day when the little maid went to her mistress 
she saw that she had been crying. She knew what 
it was that made her cry. As she was helping her 
mistress to dress she thought: "I would that my 
master could be cured. Are there not lepers in my 
land as well as here ? Yes, and they have been 



Helpfulness 5 3 

cured sometimes. Not by the doctors, for they do 
not know how to cure leprosy, but by some one, 
surely ! Yes ! I remember, it was Elisha, the 
great prophet, who cured them. Why could he not 
also cure my master? I will tell my mistress." So 
she told her mistress about the great prophet Elisha, 
who could cure her master if only he would go to 
see him. Her mistress at once told Naaman, her 
husband ; and the great soldier, so glad to hear of 
some one who would perhaps help him, took his 
servants and set out. in his chariot for the far-off 
home of the little maid. 

When it was nearly time for him to come home 
again, the little maid watched every day to see him 
returning. At last one day she saw the horses and 
the chariot far off on the hillside. Nearer and 
nearer it came. Faster and faster galloped the 
horses, right through the city gate until they had 
drawn up at the great door below. 

"I am cured," cried Naaman to his wife, as he 
hurried into the house. " The little maid has saved 
my life." Then there was great gladness and music 
and rejoicing in the home of Naaman the soldier. 
But I think there was no one more happy among 
them all than the little maid who loved and helped 
her mistress and her master. Don't you think they 
must have loved the little maiden who had brought 
so much sunshine into their home ? 



Transition 

^Vhat was th< 
house the little maid lived ? What work did she do 



What was the name of the great soldier in whose 



54 A Beginners" Course 

in his home ? Why was Naaman's wife often very 
sad ? How did the little maid help ? 

4 Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children express their ideas of the story by 

free drawing. 

Picture 

The Little Maid and Her Mistress. 

Memory Gem 

Help one another, the snowflakes said, 

As they cuddled down in their fleecy bed. 

One of us here would not be felt, 

One of us here would quickly melt, 

But I'll help you and you help me, 

And then what a big white drift you'll see. 



Lesson 16 

Samuel Helping in the House of God (i Sam. 

3: 1=10). 

Golden Text: Let us do good unto all (Gal. 6 : 10). 

Result Sought : 

Development of a spirit of helpfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many of you have ever seen a blind man ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about an old man who was 
nearly blind, and a little boy who was his helper. 
Eli, the old man, lived in the Tabernacle. That was 



Helpfulness 5 5 

what God's house, the church, was called long ago. 
It was like a great wide tent ; not a bit like the 
churches we have nowadays. Eli lived in the Tab- 
ernacle all the time, for he was the chief minister. 
They called him the High Priest. He had white 
hair and a long white beard, and wore a beautiful 
robe of blue and gold. 

One day there came to the temple a dark-haired 
woman. She brought a beautiful little boy, who had 
red cheeks and curling hair that reached to his 
shoulders. She said, to Eli: "My lord, I have 
brought thee the little boy Samuel. Wilt thou take 
him to live with thee in the Tabernacle and let him 
help thee to minister before the Lord ?" Eli put 
forth his hand and laid it upon the boy's head. He 
said : " My little son, I shall be very glad to have 
thee here. ' ' 

After that Eli gave Samuel a little white linen 
robe, like those the other priests wore, and Samuel 
became Eli's helper. At first he had to learn to read 
and write, for he was too small to do many of the 
things that the other priests had to do. But he could 
often help them. When he grew older he helped by 
pouring the oil into the lamp that was always burn- 
ing, and by swinging the bowls of sweet incense to 
and fro before the altar. Sometimes he covered the 
vessels in the holy place with their purple and scarlet 
cloths, or blew one of the long silver trumpets when 
it was time for a procession to begin, and every night 
he had to shut the big doors of the tent 

Eli, the High Priest, grew to love him very dearly. 
Whenever the boy heard him calling, " Samuel, 



56 A Beginners' Course 

Samuel," he ran to him at once. Sometimes Eli 
wanted him to carry a message for him, sometimes 
he wanted Samuel to lead him about, for he could 
not see to get about by himself. But whenever Eli 
wanted him, Samuel was always ready to help him. 

Every year Samuel's mother came to see him, and 
each time she came she brought a beautiful little 
coat that she had made for him herself. It pleased 
her so much when one day Eli said : ' ' Samuel is my 
helper. I could not do without him now." 

Samuel lived in the Tabernacle with Eli until the 
time of the old priest's death, and even after that he 
lived there helping and serving. 

3. Transition. 

What was the name of the old High Priest ? Who 
came to live with him ? How did little Samuel help 
in the temple ? 

4 Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Lead the children to imitate some of 
the activities of the boy Samuel. For example, they 
can make believe to pour the oil into the lamps, 
swing the bowls of incense and blow the trumpets. 
Some of the children can pretend to be blind Elis, 
others can be Samuels and each lead an Eli about 
the room. Other activities will probably suggest 
themselves or be suggested by the children in the 
course of the lesson. 

Picture 

Child Samuel presented to Eli, by Opie. 



Helpfulness 57 

Lesson 17 
Friends Helping a Sick Man (Mark 2 : 1 = 12), 

Golden Text : Let us do good unto all (Gal, 6 : 10). 

Result Sought: 

Development of a spirit of helpfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1, Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever see any one who could not use his 
arms and legs and stand up straight and tall like a 
soldier ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about a man who was weak and 
helpless, and how some friends helped him. This 
man was so helpless that he could not walk or even 
stand. People had to wait upon him all the time. 
He could not play with his children as your papa 
can, and I suppose the family were very poor, 
because they had no strong father to work for them. 
The doctors had tried to help this poor man but they 
did not seem to do him any good. His friends were 
very sorry for him and did what they could, but in 
spite of all he seemed to get worse and worse. At 
last one day one of these friends heard that Jesus was 
in the city and in a house not very far away. At 
once they thought of their poor sick friend, and 
decided that they would carry him to Jesus and ask 
him to heal him. So four of them went to the sick 
man's house and said to him : "Jesus is preaching 
in a house not very far away. We have come to 



58 A Beginners' Course 

take you to him. We are sure he will be able to 
cure you." So each took hold of a corner of the 
thin mattress on which he lay and carried him right 
out of the house and along the road to the place 
where Jesus was. But there they found such a great 
crowd of people that they could not hope to enter the 
door. However they would not turn back. They 
wanted to see their helpless friend cured, and they 
were sure that no one but Jesus could cure him. 

On the outside of the house was a stairway which 
led up to the roof. They thought perhaps they could 
get into the house by the roof. So they carefully 
carried their burden up the stairs. They saw that 
there was nothing to do but make a hole in the roof 
and lower their friend down through it into the house. 
So they took up some of the boards and straw, until 
a large enough opening was made. Looking down, 
they saw Jesus teaching a great many people in the 
room below. Quickly they tied a rope to each of 
the four corners of the mattress and carefully lowered 
it right in front of Jesus. When all the people saw 
the sick man on the mattress they stopped talking 
and wondered what Jesus would do. What do you 
think he did ? I am sure he was pleased with the 
men who had tried so hard to help their helpless 
friend. Perhaps he guessed that there were some 
little children outside waiting to see if their father 
would come out cured. Looking kindly at the man 
he said : "Arise, take up thy bed and walk." Then 
the man was cured, and rising up folded his mattress 
and went away to his home with the kind friends 
who had helped him. 



Helpfulness 



59 



3. Transition. 

What did the sick man's friends decide to do when 
they heard that Jesus was close by ? How did they 
get him to Jesus to be cured ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Blocks. Give the children blocks and let them 
build with you in the simplest possible manner a little 
eastern house with the outside stairs up to the roof. 

Picture 

The Paralytic Healed, by Bida. 

Blackboard 




Lesson 18 
A Little Boy Helping Jesus (John 6 : 5=14). 
Golden Text : Let us do good unto all (Gal. 6 : 10), 

Result Sought: 

Development of a spirit of helpfulness. 



6o A Beginners' Course 



Lesson Taught: 

i. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever go for a picnic ? What do you take 
with you when you go for a picnic ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

To-day we have a story about a little 'lad and a 
lunch. This little lad lived in the same land with 
Jesus. He loved Jesus very much, and as often as 
he could went with the other boys to see him heal 
the sick people and to hear him tell beautiful stories. 

One day he heard a man say to a friend : ' ' Jesus 
has gone out into the country ; let us follow him and 
perhaps he will talk with us. ' ' The little lad thought : 
" How I should love to go, too ! I wonder if mother 
would let me." So he ran home and asked his 
mother if he might go with the others. She said, 
"Yes," and ?ave him some little cakes of bread and 
two small fishes to take along with him for a lunch. 
She knew he would be hungry before he got home. 

Then the little lad started happily off. By and by 
he came to the place where a great crowd of people 
were gathered to listen to Jesus. He pushed through 
the crowd, and got near enough to hear quite well. 
After a while Jesus stopped speaking to the people 
and moved away a little distance to rest. But the 
people all followed after him, for they loved to be 
near him. The little lad followed, too, and got 
quite close to him. 

Pretty soon he heard one of Jesus' friends say : 
" The Master wishes to give bread to all these people, 
but we have none whatever for them." The lad 



Helpfulness 6 1 

thought of his lunch and wished that he might help 
Jesus. He ran up to the man and said: "See, I 
have here five cakes of barley bread and two small 
fishes ; take them to the Master ; perhaps he can 
use them." The man said: "Come, bring them to 
the Master." As Jesus took the little lad's lunch he 
smiled, to thank him, and laid his hand on his curly 
head. 

Then Jesus bowed his head and stretched forth his 
hand for the people to bow also. When all were 
quiet Jesus prayed, and thanked the heavenly Father 
for the loaves and the fishes. After that, Jesus 
began to break them into pieces. Now a wonderful 
thing happened. There were more and more pieces, 
until the disciple cried out in amazement : " There 
is going to be enough for everybody." Jesus said to 
him: "Go and make all the people sit down, 
fifty in one place, one hundred in another, until 
all are seated." The disciple and his friends did 
so. And when they counted the people they found 
that there were more than five thousand of them. 
Then Jesus sent to each one some bread and some 
fish. The little lad helped the disciples to serve all 
the people, and then they had lunch. Everyone had 
plenty to eat. 

And when they gathered up the pieces that were 
left, there were twelve large baskets full. I expect 
the little birds had a good lunch from some of the 
big crumbs. 

It was only a little boy and only a little lunch, but 
a little boy and a little lunch were able to make a 
great many people happy. 



62 



A Beginners' Course 



3. Transition. 

Who did the little lad go out to the country to hear 
one day ? What did he take with him ? How did 
he help Jesus ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. Let the children express their ideas of 
this story by free drawing. 

Picture 

Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, by Murillo. 

Blackboard 




Lesson 10 

God Helping Us by the Gift of His Son (Matt. 1 : 
21. Luke 2 : 1=20. 1 Tim. 1 : 15). 

Golden Text : For God so loved the world that he 
gave his only begotten Son (John 3 : 16). 

Result Sought : 

Development of a spirit of happy helpfulness. 

Suggestion to Teachers: 

We have given the whole Christmas story in the 



Helpfulness 6 



following lesson ; possibly it is too long and some of 
it may wisely be omitted, but that depends upon the 
teacher and the intelligence of the class. 

Lesson Taught : 

i. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Before you go to sleep on Christinas Eve, what do 
you hang up in your room ? What do you hope to 
find in your stocking on Christmas morning ? What 
do you feel like when you have found all the beauti- 
ful gifts ? 

After this fashion talk a little with the children about 
the gifts whicl* they receive or give. 

2. Lesson Story 

Our story to-day is about the first and the very 
best Christmas gift that ever was given. 

Very late one night a sweet-faced young woman 
named Mary, with Joseph, her husband, came to the 
door of the Inn in the city of Bethlehem. Mary 
rode on a donkey which Joseph led by the bridle. 
They asked for a room, but the innkeeper told them 
that the Inn was quite full, and that they could not 
stay there. So they turned away and Joseph went 
from door to door trying to find a place to sleep. 
But no one had a room. At last they came back to 
the Inn. Then the innkeeper told them that although 
there was not a room for them in the house, they 
might go into the stable and sleep there for the night. 
The stable was only a cave in a big rock but they 
were so tired that they were glad to go into it. 

That night, there in the stable where the cows and 
the sheep and the chickens lived, the Father, God, 



64 A Beginners' Course 

sent to the mother, Mary, the first Christmas gift. It 
was a dear little baby boy ; the Christ-child. How 
happy this gift made the Mother Mary. She wrapped 
him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger 
from which the cattle fed. 

But I must tell you of something else that hap- 
pened that same night. Away out upon the hillside 
there were some shepherds keeping watch over their 
flocks. All the sheep were in the fold, and the 
shepherds in their woolly mantles of sheepskin, were 
sitting around a fire which they had built near the 
door of the sheepfold. As they sat there they could 
keep watch in case some robber came to steal one of 
the sheep, or a wolf or bear crept near to get one of 
the lambs. Suddenly, from the dark sky above them 
there shone a wonderfully bright light, and an angel 
in white garments all shining, came and stood before 
them. The shepherds were afraid and dazzled by 
the light. But the angel said : " Fear not. I have 
come to bring ye good news. The Christ-child is 
born in the city of Bethlehem. If ye go to the city, 
ye will find him there wrapped in swaddling clothes, 
and lying in a manger." 

Then there appeared in the bright light a great 
many other angels in shining garments, and they 
all began to sing a beautiful song cf praise, because 
they were so glad that the dear Christ-child was 
born. This is what they sang: "Glory to God 
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will 
toward men." The shepherds were full of joy 
when they heard the good news, and when the 
angels had gone back to heaven and the bright light 



Helpfuiness 65 

had quite faded away, they said to one another : 
"The Christ-child is born in Bethlehem. Let us go 
and seek him. ' ' So they drew their garments tightly 
around them and picked up their great shepherds' 
crooks and hurried to the city. Before long they 
came to the stable where the baby lay. They found 
him lying there on the hay near the cows and sheep, 
and they kneeled down by his side and looked into 
his dear little face. Then they bowed their heads 
and thanked the kind father God for sending such 
a dear gift to the world. After that they went back 
to their sheep on the hillside. 

Not many days after this some other visitors came 
to see the baby boy. These were some wise men. 
They came from the far-off East, and they had been 
led on the journey to Bethlehem by a beautiful bright 
star, which shone above them in the sky. When 
they saw the baby lying in the manger lined with 
hay, they said to the mother, Mary: "Is this the 
promised Christ-child?" Mary answered: "It is 
he." Then their faces shone w r ith joy, and they fell 
upon their knees and placed beside him beautiful 
gifts of gold and sweet smelling perfume which 
they had brought all the way from their home in the 
East, for they were rich. Then they went back 
to their homes, rejoicing that they had found the 
Christ-child. 

Just about that time the day came for the baby to 
be named. Long before God sent the baby boy an 
angel had told the mother, Mary, what to call him. 
I wonder if you can tell me what the name was ? 
Yes, it was Jesus ; and that is the name that we all 



66 A Beginners" Course 

love so much because the baby Jesus was God's 
Christmas gift to all the people who live on the big 
round world. 

3. Transition. 

What was the very first Christmas gift ? Who sent 
the dear baby boy ? To whom did the father God 
send him ? Where did the mother Mary lay her 
baby boy ? Who came to see the. Christ-child the 
day after God had sent him to the mother Mary ? 
Who else visited him ? What did they bring him ? 
What did the mother Mary name the dear Christ- 
child ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Give each of the children an outlined picture of a 
manger-cradle and allow them to color it (preferably 
in brown or gray) with crayons or paints. 

Picture 

The Arrival of the Shepherds, by Lerolle. 



JESUS OUR HELPER 

Golden Text for Lessons 20 to 22 : Lord, be thou 
my helper (Psa. 30: 10). 



Lesson 20 
Jesus Helping the Fishermen (John 21 : 2-13). 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of Jesus as a ready helper. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever see anybody fishing ? Who has a 
father or brother who goes fishing? What does he 
catch ? Does he ever come home without catching 
anything ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about seven men who went 
fishing and who fished all night without catching 
anything. Do you remember the man who was put 
in prison ? What was his name ? 
. One evening this same Peter was sitting talking 
with Thomas and John and some other men who 
were friends of Jesus. They had been talking 
together a while when Peter, starting up, said to the 
others, "I am going fishing" The others said, 
"That is a good idea. We will go with you." So 
they all walked down to the beach and found their 
fishing nets. These they put into the boat. Then 

67 



63 A Beginners Course 

they all took hold of the boat, and with some very 
strong pulls and pushes got it out into the water. 
Next they put up the sail, and away they went, off 
over the waters to the fishing place. After they 
arrived there they lowered their nets and fished for a 
time, but did not catch any fish. " It will be better 
when it gets quite dark," said Peter, for he knew 
that the night was the best time to fish. But even 
when it was dark they did not catch anything. They 
worked all night until the morning light began to 
appear red in the sky, but there was not a fish in 
the nets. When the bright sun rose they were all 
tired and discouraged and Peter said, " There is no 
use fishing any longer. Let us give it up and go 
home. ' ' The others agreed, but just then they heard 
some one calling to them from the beach. The voice 
said, " Children, have ye caught any fish ? " 

They were too far away to see who it was that 
asked, but Peter answered : ' ' No, we have not 
caught a single one.'' The voice came again : 
" Cast the net on the right side of the boat and thou 
wilt find fish." So they put out the net on the right 
side, and sure enough, it was soon full of fish, so 
full that all together they could not lift it into the boat. 
Then John said : " I know who it is that hath called- 
to us from the beach. It is Jesus." "Is it?" said 
Peter, and he was so glad to hear it that he put his 
fisherman's coat around him, and without saying a 
word to any one, jumped into the water and swam 
to the shore. The rest of the disciples came in the 
boat, dragging the net full of fishes after them in the 
water. When they reached the beach they found a 



Jesus Our Helper 69 

fire ready and some fish cooking. There was some 
bread for them, too. Jesus said : ' ' Bring some of 
the fish which ye have now caught. ' ' So Peter went 
on board the boat and drew the net to the beach. 
They found that they had caught one hundred and 
fifty-three large fishes, and although there were so 
many, the net had not even been torn. 

When all the fish were counted they brought some 
of them, and Jesus cooked them with the others. 
He knew that they had been working all night and 
must be tired and hungry. " Come and have break- 
fast," he said. And there in the beautiful morning 
sunshine they all sat about the fire, and Jesus took 
the bread and fish and waited upon the tired men 
while they ate. 

3. Transition. 

Where did Peter and his friends go one evening ? 
How long did they fish ? How much did they catch ? 
In the morning who called to them from the shore? 
How did He help them ? When Peter found out who 
it was what did he do ? What did the men find 
ready for them when they came to the beach ? Who 
had prepared it ? How many fishes did they catch : 
Who waited on them while they ate their breakfast ? 

4. Expression of the Lesson Story. 
Drawing. Let the children draw freely in the 

usual way their ideas of the story. 

Picture 

Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by Dore. 



Jo A Beginners' Course 

Memory Gem 

" His hands were always helping, 
His eyes were always kind, 
And he never was too busy 
To heal the sick and blind.' ' 



Lesson 21 

Jesus Feeding Four Thousand Men (Matt. 15: 
32=39: Mark 8 : 1=9). 

Golden Text : Lord, be thou my helper (Psa. 30 : 10). 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of Jesus as a ready helper. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Were you ever very hungry ? Why were you 
hungry ? What did you do about it ? Suppose 
mother did not have anything for you to eat, what 
would you have done ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

I am going to tell you a story to-day about a lot of 
very hungry people and how they were fed. Where- 
ever Jesus went, the people gathered together to hear 
him and to ask him questions. The boys and girls 
loved to gather near and listen to the stories he used 
to tell. Wherever he went he told them most beauti- 
ful stories. Many of the people brought with them 
their sick friends for Jesus to cure. He made the 
feet of those who were lame so strong that they 
could walk as well and quickly as other people. 



Jesus Our Helper 71 

He touched the eyes of blind people with his gentle 
hand, and they were opened so that they could see 
the beautiful world and their friends. One time he 
touched the lips of a little boy who could not speak, 
and after that he was able to talk like other children. 

One bright day Jesus came to a mountain near the 
Sea of Galilee. He had only been there a very little 
while when a great crowd of people came to him. 
They came from every part of the country. 

There were lots of boys and girls ; some of the 
boys had raced with one another to see who would 
get there first. Some rode on donkeys, and some 
came across the sea in boats. Some had to be car- 
ried, for they were ill and lame and needed Jesus to 
heal them ; others had to be led by the hand, for 
they were blind and could not see the way. Mothers 
brought their little babies who were ill, and brothers 
brought their sick sisters. They knew that Jesus 
would cure them. And he did cure them, and talked 
to them, too, and they loved so to be near him that 
they did not go home when night came, but stayed 
all the next day, and the next one, too. When they 
started out they had not meant to stay so long, and 
they did not bring food enough with them to last 
all that time ; so on that last day they were very 
hungry. Jesus saw this, and calling his disciples to 
him, said : " I am sorry to see these people so hungry. 
They cannot go home without food, for they have far 
to go and will faint by the way " But his disciples 
said: "What can we do? We have not enough 
food to satisfy all these hungry people." Jesus 
asked : " How many loaves have ye ? " They said : 



72 A Beginners' Course 

"There are seven, and a few little fishes." Jesus 
stood up before the people and told them all to sit 
down upon the ground. Then he took the seven 
loaves and the fishes and asked a blessing upon 
them. He broke them into pieces and gave them to 
his disciples to take around to the people. The 
people had enough to eat — every one of them, and 
although there were four thousand men there that 
day, and many women and little children besides, 
all had plenty ; and when the scraps were gathered 
up, there was enough to fill seven baskets. Then 
Jesus sent all the people away to their homes. 

3. Transition. 

Why did the people come to Jesus in the moun- 
tain ? What did he do for them ? How long did 
they stay there ? What did Jesus do for them on the 
last day ? 

4. Expression of the Lesson Story. 
Sand-tray . This lesson will be a simple one to 

illustrate on the sand-tray. Let the children do as 
much of the work as possible. First of all the 
mountains and the country around must be molded. 
Then the children can bring the crowds of people 
from the surrounding country. These people can be 
represented by sticks or bits of paper or cardboard. 
Different pieces can represent the disciples, and a 
cross may stand for Jesus. When the story has been 
rehearsed the children can scatter the people back 
to their homes. 

Picture 
Jesus Feeding the Multitude. 



Jesus Our Helper 
Blackboard 



73 




Lesson 22 

Jesus Healing a Leper (Matt, 8 : 1-4 ; Mark 

1: 40=45). 
Golden Text: Lord, be thou my helper (Psa. 30 : 10). 

Result Sought : 

Consciousness of Jesus as a ready helper. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever know anybody who was so ill that he 
had to be kept in a room by himself, and no one 
allowed to go near him except a nurse ? What was 
the matter with him ? 

With some such questions as these lead the chil- 
dren to see that there are some contagious diseases 
which have to be isolated. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about a man who was ill with 
that kind of a disease. It was leprosy. He could 
not live in the house with his wife and children, 



74 A Beginners Course 

for only those who had the same disease could 
come near him. He was not even allowed to stay 
in a house in the city, but had to go out into a coun-. 
try place and live there. From day to day a little 
lad, his son, carried him food. His mother woull 
put it in a basket, and the boy would take it in his 
hand and go through the gate of the city up over the 
hill to the place where the lepers lived. Whenever 
he saw his father in the distance he would wave to 
him, then place the food upon the ground and turn 
back home. 

One day he had some news to tell his father. 
When he had placed the food upon the ground he 
walked back a distance and then stopped. He 
waited until his father came near enough to hear 
him and he called : " Father, hast thou heard of the 
good man who is traveling about the country curing 
sick people ? " The father answered : " No ; who is 
he? What is his name?" And the boy called 
back: "His name is Jesus. I heard him telling 
the children stories, and I saw him curing sick 
men. Perhaps he can cure thee." "Where can I 
see him ? I cannot go far," said the father. " He 
is in the city," answered the lad. "Ah, I can- 
not enter the city," cried the poor man. "But 
perhaps he will pass this way. If he comes, tell me, 
my son ; perhaps he will cure me." 

The next day the boy had more good news. He 
cried : " Father, Jesus is coming. He will pass this 
way to-morrow. Watch for him and ask him to 
cure thee, for he cureth every one who asketh." 

The next morning the leper was up with the sun- 



Jesus Oicr Helper 75 

rise. He went to the top of the hill and watched. 
" I wonder if he will come," he kept thinking. " I 
wonder if he will cure me ! Ah, if he would, how 
happy I would be ! I could go back and live at 
home again." After a long time he saw a crowd 
of people coming. " Jesus must be there," he 
thought. As they came nearer he saw in the center 
of the crowd a tall man wearing a blue robe. Just 
then his little boy came running as near as he dared, 
and, pointing to the tall man, cried: "Father, 
Father, that is he. That is Jesus." Then the leper 
hurried down the hill. As he approached the crowd 
some one who knew he was a leper, cried out : 
"Away, away ! Thou art a leper. Come not near. ' ' 
But the leper did not listen. He ran through the crowd 
until he came close to Jesus. Falling down before 
him he cried : " Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make 
me well." When Jesus saw him he had pity. He 
was not afraid of the leprosy, and he put out his 
hand and touched the man, saying: "I will. Be 
thou cured." Then at once the disease left the leper 
and he was quite well. 

I am sure his little boy was very happy when he 
saw his father strong and well ; how glad he would 
be to take him back home to his mother and brothers 
and sisters. I am sure that family never forgot the 
kind Jesus who cured their father. 

3. Transition. 

Why did the man in our story have to live outside 
of the city ? How did he hear about Jesus ? Who 
cured him ? 



76 A Beginners' Course 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. Let the children illustrate this story 
either on paper or blackboards. 

Picture 

Healing the Sick, by Schonherr. 

Lesson 23 

Jesus Healing a Blind Man (John 9: 1=41). 

Golden Text: My help cometh from the Lord (Psa. 

121 : 2). 

Result Sought : 

A consciousness of Jesus' loving willingness to 
help. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Do you know any really blind people ? How do 
you think it would feel to have your eyes shut all the 
time ? Let us all shut our eyes and find out what it 
feels like to be blind. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time God sent a sweet baby boy to live 
in a home in Palestine. He was just like other boy 
babies except that he was blind. His little brown eyes 
were wide open, but there was no sight in them, and 
when he raised them toward his mother's face she 
knew they could not see her. 

When he became old enough she taught him to 
walk and go about the house by himself, and by and 
by he even went out sometimes with the other little 



Jesus Our Helper 77 

boys, but he could not often join in their games, but 
had to sit by himself while the others ran and played. 
He could not see his little friends or the flowers or 
the birds. He could only tell what his toys were 
like by the touch and the sound of them ; he could 
only know his little kitten by feeling and stroking it. 
When he grew older he did not go to school, for he 
could not see to read or write. When he became a 
man he could not work for himself, so he became 
very poor and had to beg by the roadside. 

One day, as he sat there, he heard a group of men 
talking as they came near. He listened. They 
were talking about him and his blind eyes. One of 
them, whom they called "Master," came near to 
him and stopped. He was saying to the others : 
1 ' See ! I am going to make this poor blind man 
happy." 

Hearing this the blind man started up. "Who art 
thou and how canst thou make me happy ? " The 
answer came, " I am Jesus, and I will cure your eyes 
so that thou mayest see " With those words he made 
some clay and put it upon the eyes of the blind man. 
"Now," he said to him, "go and wash in the pool 
of Siloam. ' ' The blind man almost thought he must 
be dreaming. But some one led him quickly to the 
pool and he bathed his eyes, and when he opened 
them and lifted his head he found that he could see. 
There were the hills and the trees and the flowers 
and the bright sunshine, and he could see them all 
How happy he must have felt ! And when he went 
home he could see his mother's face, and his father 
and all his friends. They asked him who had cured 



7 8 A Beginners' Course 

him, and he said, ''A man called Jesus opened my 
eyes." 

3. Transition. 

What was the matter with the baby boy that came 
to a home in Palestine ? What did he have to do to 
get money when he grew to be a man ? What hap- 
pened one day as he was sitting begging ? Who 
was it that opened the blind man's eyes ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical, Let all the children shut their eyes and 
keep them so for a moment. Next let half the 
children make believe that they are blind men, and 
let each of the others lead a blind man about the 
rcom. Then allow the ones who led to be blind 
men, and the others to be those who lead. When 
you have gathered them together again ask them 
how it feels to be able to see once more. 

Picture 

Jesus and the Man born Blind, by Bida. 



Lesson 24 
Jesus Raising the Widow's Son (Luke 7 : 11=17). 

Golden Text : My help cometh from the Lord (Psa. 
121 : 2). 

Result Sought : 

A 'consciousness of Jesus' loving willingness to 
help. 



Jesus Our Helper 79 

Suggestion "to Teachers : 

It is quite probable that many teachers will object 
to telling the following story to very little children. 
Little children are just as well without knowing about 
death. At first we hesitated to write the story, feel- 
ing that it was not good lesson material for the very 
little child. However, we have tried to tell the story 
in a very simple way, and have made the references 
to the death of the young man as abstract as pos- 
sible. 

We cannot help feeling that any teacher would be 
justified in omitting the story altogether and substi- 
tuting another one in its place. If the lesson is 
taught, the teacher should make much of the kind- 
ness of Jesus to the weeping woman, and as little as 
possible of the funeral incident. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever cry ? What made you cry ? What 
did you do when you were hurt ? What did mother 
do to make it better ? W^uld you like me to tell you 
a story about a woman who cried and how some one 
helped her to dry her tears ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Long, long ago, when Jesus was upon the earth, he 
and some of his friends were walking one day along 
the road near the gate of a city. As they drew near 
to the gate, they saw a crowd of people coming out 
of the city and along the road toward them. At first 
they did not know what it meant, but as they drew 



So A Beginners' Course 

nearer, they saw that it was a funeral procession. A 
boy had died. He was the only son of his mother, 
and she was a widow, and they were carrying him to 
the burying-place. Everybody was very sorry for 
this poor mother, for she loved her son very much 
He was all she had in the world, and now that he was 
dead she felt very lonely and sad. Her friends were 
so sorry for her that they tried to comfort her, and 
all of them came with her that afternoon to the place 
of burial. They tried to comfort her in every way 
they could, but they could not bring her boy back to 
life again, and that was what she wanted. 

As Jesus and his friends drew near, they saw the 
weeping woman, and Jesus pitied her. He said to 
himself: "I must try to comfort her." Then he 
stopped the procession, and speaking to the widow, 
said : " Do not weep. I will help you." She raised 
her head and sadly asked : " Can you give me back 
my boy?" Jesus quietly answered: "Yes, I can 
and will. ' ' Then all the people were astonished, 
and gazing at Jesus, said to one another : " He can- 
not bring the dead boy ]?ack to life again. " But 
they all crowded nearer, curious to see what he 
would do. 

Jesus came closer and, speaking to the dead boy, 
said : "Young man, I say unto thee, arise," and the 
boy arose and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 
How glad she must have been to have her son 
brought back to life. She threw her arms around 
his neck and kissed him many times. Then she 
dried her tears and all the people turned and went 
back to the city. 



Jesus Our Helper 



3. Transition. 

As Jesus and his friends were walking toward the 
gate of a city one day, what did they see ? How did 
Jesus feel when he saw the poor woman weeping ? 
How did he help her to dry her tears ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Tell the children to draw a picture of Jesus and 
the woman whom he helped. 

Picture 

Raising the Dead, by Hofmann. 

Blackboard 











PICTURE 


jr V-r— . ----- 









JESUS OUR TEACHER 

Golden Text for Lessons 25 to 28 : Teach me thy 
way, O Lord (Psa. 27 : 11). 



Lesson 25 
Jesus' Example of Service (John 13 : 1-15). 

Result Sought: 

Development of a spirit of helpfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Who helps your mother about the house ? What 
is she called ? 

With a few questions like these get the children to 
talk about servants. Get them to tell you some 
of the helpful things that servants are always doing, 
and thus lead up to the lesson story. Prepare further 
for the lesson story by a brief talk with the children 
about Jesus. Have them tell you some of the things 
he did ; how he opened the blind man's eyes ; how 
he helped the fishermen ; how he fed the five thou- 
sand, and the four thousand ; how he helped the leper 
and brought back to life the widow's son who was 
dead. Be careful not to go into too much detail lest 
the children weary before you reach the story of the 
day. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time, long, long ago, thirteen men 



Jesus Otir Teacher 83 

met together in a room to take supper. As they 
came in they took off their odd little shoes, or sandals, 
for the day had been warm and the roads dry and 
dusty ; then they sat down at the table. In that 
country, when people were ready to begin supper, a 
servant came around with a big copper basin full of 
cool water, and bathed the feet of all those at the 
table. 

This evening no servant was there to wait upon 
them. Some one would have to take the servant's 
place and bring the water and wash the feet. One 
of these men was kinder and more thoughtful than 
the others. You could tell that by his beautiful 
face. This was Jesus. The same Jesus who helped 
the sick people ; who had cured the leper and opened 
the blind man's eyes, and who told the boys and 
girls the beautiful stories. He arose from the table 
and poured some fresh cool water into the copper 
basin. Then taking a towel he began to wash the 
feet of his friends. When he came to Peter, the 
Peter we have often heard of, and knelt before him 
to wash his feet, Peter cried out, ." Thou ! Master, 
dost thou wash my feet ? " He thought that Jesus, 
whom they all called " Master," should not take the 
place of a servant. But Jesus said, "Yes, Peter." 
And Peter cried, ■ ' Thou shalt never wash my feet. 
But Jesus answered, " If thou dost not permit me to 
wash thy feet, thou art not my friend. ' ' Then Peter 
kept quiet and allowed Jesus to bathe his feet and 
wipe them with the towel. When he had washed 
the feet of all of them he sat down again and they 
all had supper. 



84 A Beginners' Course 

3. Transition. 

Why were the thirteen men gathered together ? 
Who got up and washed the feet of all the rest ? 
What did Peter say ? What did Jesus say ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. Allow the children to express their 
ideas of the story by drawing. 

Picture 

Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet, by Brown. 

Memory Gem 

" Little deeds of love I'll do, 

Words I'll speak so kind and true. 
Thus I'll be the whole day through 
Like a sunbeam shining." 



Lesson 26 

Jesus' Story of a Supper (Luke 14 : 16=24). 

Golden Text : Teach me thy way, O Lord (Psa. 
27:11). 

Result Sought : 

Appreciation of and love for Bible stories. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many of you have ever been to a party ? 
Tell me about it. Do you like to go to parties ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

When Jesus was on earth he told a great many 
stories. We have many of them in his book, the 



Jesus Our Teacher 85 

Bible, but I am sure he told a good many more. 
The people loved to listen to his stories and used to 
crowd around him to hear them. One time he told 
some people a story about a party. I will tell it to 
you. 

Once upon a time a man invited a great many 
people to a party. First of all he sent them the invi- 
tations. Then, when the party was all ready, he sent 
his servant to tell them that it was time to come. 
But when the servant came back the good man was 
very much surprised to hear that nobody was com- 
ing to the party after all. Everybody he had asked 
was too busy. One man said : "I have just bought 
a piece of ground and I must go and see after it. I 
pray thee have me excused." Said another: "I 
have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to 
prove them. I pray thee have me excused." 
Another said : "I have married a wife and I cannot 
come." And so it was with all of them. They 
were too busy to come to the party. The good man 
who had invited them was very much disappointed, 
for he had prepared everything very carefully and 
had a fine supper all ready for them. He did not 
want to see all his good things wasted. 

Pretty soon an idea came to him. He called his 
servant and said to him : ' ' Go out quickly into all 
the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in all the 
poor and the lame and blind people that thou 
canst find. I will give them a party and a good 
supper, instead of these others whom I invited." So 
the servant went and did as his master commanded. 
He brought people who had never been to a party 



86 A Beginners' Course 

before and who were too poor to have fine suppers 
at home. He sent other servants to lead the blind 
people, who had to miss so many happy times be- 
cause the light and the beautiful things of the earth 
were shut away from their eyes ; he sent donkeys and 
horses for the poor lame people who could not walk. 
Then he came again to his master and said : " Lord, 
all thou hast commanded is done, but still there 
is room for more." The master answered: "Then 
go into the streets outside the city and bring in the 
poor people who live there. Bring them until the 
house is quite filled." The servant did so, and that 
night there was a wonderful party in the great house. 
How happy they all were, and the good man was 
happy, too, when he saw the hungry being fed, and 
all the poor people made glad. 

3. Transition. 

Why did the good man send invitations to his 
friends ? What did his servant have to tell him when 
he came back ? What did the good man tell his 
servant to do then ? What sort of a party did they 
have in the house that night ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Give the children blocks and allow them to build 
the house in which the party was held. 



Lesson 27 
Jesus' Story of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15: 3-7). 
Golden Text: Teach me thy way, O Lord (Psa. 
27: 11). 



Jesus Our Teacher 87 

Result Sought : 

Appreciation of and love for Bible stories. 

Lesson Taught: 

:. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin by a talk with the children about getting 
lost. Ask if any child in the class was ever lost, 
and if so, have him tell the experience. 

2. Lesson Story. 

One time Jesus told the people a story about a poor 
little lamb that got lost. This little lamb belonged 
to a large flock of sheep. He knew the shepherd 
very well, and loved him, and the shepherd knew 
him because his wool was so very white and curly. 
One day when he went over the hill to get some 
fresh green grass he lost his way, and when he 
started to look for his mother and the shepherd and 
the other sheep, he couldn't find them anywhere. 
He tried to find his way back to the sheepfold, but 
the farther he walked, the farther away he got from 
it. Soon he began to bleat and cry as loud as he 
could to try to make his mother hear, but no one 
could hear him, he was too far away. After a while 
it began to grow dark, and the rain came beating 
down. The little lamb could hardly see where to 
walk. He came at last to a thicket, and his curly 
wool caught on the thorns, which held him fast. He 
gave one sad little "baa-a-a," and lay down, cold 
and hungry and miserable. 

It seemed to him that he had lain there a very long 
time thinking of his brothers and sisters, warm and 
safe in the sheepfold, when he heard a call. He 



SS A Beginners Course 



raised his head and listened. Pretty soon it came 
again, and it was nearer this. time. The little lamb's 
heart began to beat fast as he said to himself: 
"That sounds like our good shepherd. Perhaps he 
has come to look for me. 1 ' The call came again, 
and now the little lamb heard his own name. Sure 
enough, it was the good shepherd. He had come 
away over the hills in the dark and the rain to find 
the little lamb he loved. The little lamb called 
back. " Baa-a-a ! baa-a-a!" and pretty soon he 
was safe in the good shepherd's arms. The shep- 
herd cuddled him close against his warm woolly 
mantle. Then they went away back over the hills 
and down the long road to the sheepfold, and the 
little lamb was safe with his mother once more. 

3. Transition. 

What happened to the little lamb one day ? How 
did he get lost ? How did he get back to the sheep- 
fold ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Sand-tray. Let the children help you to mold 

the hills and valleys for the pasturing country. Here 

and there sprinkle over it some powder from a piece 

of green chalk to show the grassy parts, and tiny 

stones to indicate the stony, wild parts. Build the 

sheepfold, place the sheep and the shepherd, and 

show how the little lamb wandered away and got lost. 

Also how the shepherd went after him and brought 

him safely back» 

Picture 

The Good Shepherd, by Schonherr. 



Jesus Our Teacher 89 

Blackboard 












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. 


'&%*// .'¥ 




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— 1 


■QZ-jr-'''-'- — 





Lesson 28 
Jesus' Story of the Seed (Hatt. 13 : 3=8). 

Golden Text : Teach me thy way, O Lord (Psa. 
27 : 11). 

Result Sought : 

Appreciation of and love for Bible stories. 

Suggestion to Teachers : 

The teaching in this lesson is certainly beyond the 
experience of a little child. The teacher will observe 
that we have told the story of the seed in the simplest 
manner possible, and have not particularly empha- 
sized any special truth.- We are sure this is the 
better way. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many of you have a garden ? Did you ever 
plant some seeds ? Tell me what a seed looks like. 

With a few questions like these talk with the chil- 
dren about planting and gardening. Perhaps they 
will be able to tell of some experiences they have 
had in this line. 



90 A Beginners Course 

2 Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time Jesus told the boys and girls 
who were listening to him a story about some seeds 
that a farmer planted. 

This farmer had a very big field and he wanted to 
grow some wheat in it, so that he and his family 
would have flour out of which to make bread in the 
winter. So he got out his plow, harnessed his oxen, 
and plowed and dug the earth up until it was all 
fresh and rich and ready to grow things. It took 
him a long time to do this, for the field was large 
and some places were very hard. Besides, there were 
many rocks' and stones in the field, which kept the 
plow from working well. Indeed some places in the 
field were so hard that he could not plow at all. But 
one day he had the rest all ready. " Now," he said, 
" this is a fine day and I will sow the seed in the 
field." So he went into his barn and took a bag of 
seeds, so big that it was all he could do to carry it, 
and went over all the field scattering the seed every- 
where. It was such a big field that he could not 
drop one seed at a time like. we do in our gardens, 
but he took great handfuls and threw them here and 
there. 

Now some of these seeds dropped on the road 
alongside of the field ; others fell over on the stony 
part in the place where the ground was so hard that 
the plow would not go through it ; and still some more 
fell among the thorn bushes ; but most of the seed 
fell into the good plowed ground. 

When the farmer had quite finished scattering the 
seed he went home, and the next day he went to 



Jesus Our Teacher 91 

some other work and left the field for the heavenly 
Father to take care of. The heavenly Father sent the 
rain and the bright warm sun, and as the farmer 
passed by he said to himself: " The seed is growing. 
I am glad I planted it. We will have wheat to make 
into flour and bread for the winter." 

But some of the seeds did not grow. The seeds 
that had fallen on the road could not get down into 
the ground to grow. The very first day they were 
there, some little blackbirds saw them and flew 
down and ate them up. 

One day, after the other seeds had begun to grow, 
the farmer went to look at them. As he was passing by 
the stony places, he saw a lot of poor little scorched 
plants. They had done their best to grow, but the 
earth was not deep enough for them and the hot sun 
had withered them away. Near by he saw some more 
little plants trying to grow. They wanted to be 
straight and tall and bear wheat for the farmer, 
but they had fallen among the thorn bushes. The 
farmer was sorry, for he knew they would not be 
able to grow much more But when he looked at the 
rest of the great field he felt glad and happy, for there 
were thousands and thousands of straight little 
stalks nodding gaily in the wind, and he knew that 
by and by there would be a great and good harvest. 

3. Transition. 

Why did the farmer plow up his ground ? Where 
did some of the seeds fall ? Where did most of them 
fall ? What happened to the little seeds that fell on 
the road ? What happened to the seeds that fell in 



92 A Beginners Course 

the stony places ? What happened to those that fell 
among the thorn bushes ? What happened to those 
that fell into the good plowed ground ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Wouldn't it be nice to make believe 
that we are all little seeds ? We can have a farmer 
to plant us and then we can all grow up into straight 
and tall little wheat plants with nodding heads. 
Choose a boy to be the farmer. Choose some rain- 
drops and some sunbeams. All the rest can be 
seeds. Allow the farmer to send the seeds scatter- 
ing over the ground until they drop into places 
which they find for themselves. Then let the farmer 
go away, and the raindrops and sunbeams come 
along and do their work. Then let the little seeds 
gradually grow up until they are fine, straight, tall 
young plants. 

Picture 

Parable of the Sower, by H. L. Roberts. 



THE RISEN AND ASCENDED LORD 

Golden Text: Behold, I make all things new (Rev. 
21:5). 

Lesson 29 

New Life in Nature (Gen. 1 : 12 ; Song of Solomon 
7:11=13; Psa. 65:9; 74:16; 104:14=17; 
147: 16=18). 

Result Sought : 

An interest in Nature's newly awakened life. 

Lesson Taught: 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

What do you see coming up through the ground 
everywhere just now? Tell me all the things you 
have noticed. What do we call this beautiful time 
of the year ? 

2 Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day tells about some of the wonderful 
things that happened at just such a time as this. 

One bright morning in spring the sunbeams came 
down to visit the apple tree in the orchard. The 
leaves were putting on their green dresses and the 
baby apple buds were just waking up. Some of them 
had on their dresses of pure white. They had a 
happy time, for the bees and the butterflies came to 
visit them, and the robins sang very cheerfully. 

93 



94 A Beginners' Course 

Mr. and Mrs. Robin had built a snug nest among 
the branches, and they took every care of the five 
eggs tucked away under Mrs. Robin's warm wings. 
One little cocoon cradle hung from a twig near the 
Robins' nest. Mrs. Robin said : " I hope my birdies 
will wake up before that butterfly creeps out of its 
cocoon cradle ; they would be so glad to see it. 
Robin and I worked very busily to gather pieces of 
twigs and hay and hair to weave them into a safe 
nest. We had a happy time building the nest, and 
we shall have such a happy family in our little home 
when the birdies wake up. 

Every day the wind came to sing among the apple 
tree branches, and the sunbeams shone very warm 
upon the little apple buds and the cocoon cradle and 
the birds' nest. They called again and again : 
"Spring has come; wake up ! wake up ! " 

One morning Mrs. Robin heard a little cracking 
noise under her wing, and the eggs began to move. 
Then she heard a little voice say "peep!" very 
softly. What do you think had happened ? 

Yes, two little robins were waking up and cracking 
the egg shells and putting out two little heads. Four 
bright eyes looked about with wonder at the beautiful 
white apple blossoms and the sunshine. Very soon 
three more robins waked up, and six more bright 
eyes looked up, and there was a very happy mother 
robin, and they all cuddled under her warm feathers, 
while Mr. Robin flew about very briskly, gathering 
food for his family. 

The little Robins watched the cocoon cradle rock- 
ing in the breeze, and often said : " Mama, what is 



The Risen and Ascended Lord 95 

that little thing swinging up there ? " Mother Robin 
said: " That is a baby's cradle. Watch, and you 
will see the baby wake up and crawl out of the cradle. 
That baby learns to fly very quickly. When your 
wings have grown stronger and your feathers have 
grown longer, I will teach you how to fly. ' ' That 
made the little Robins very glad, for they wanted to 
fly like Mother Robin. 

As they watched the cocoon one morning, they saw 
a little head peep out, and then, what do you think 
they saw next ? Yes, a beautiful butterfly with golden 
brown wings. They wanted to fly up to the butterfly, 
but they had not yet learned how to use their 
wings. 

Mother Robin said: "To-morrow the big tree 
wants every one to come to a party. Birds and bees 
are coming to sing ; butterflies are coming, and 
the violets, crocuses, buttercups and snowdrops 
that live down in the grass under the tree will 
be there, too, with their smiling faces. You may 
fly down and see them. Oh ! we shall have a happy 
time." 

The little birdies were so glad and talked so fast 
that they were not at all sleepy that night. They 
wanted the morning to come quickly. The next 
morning they were awake very early. The wind 
carried all the invitations, and when the guests were 
gathered at the big apple tree he played some soft 
music. Every one tried to make the others happy. 
The birdies sang and the flowers smiled. When the 
little Robins succeeded in using their wings as Mother 
Robin showed them how to do, they flew down 



g6 A Beginners' Course 

among the flowers and spent a very happy day and 
thought it a very beautiful world all about them. * * 

(From Half a Hundred Stories.) 

3. Transition. 

Where did Mrs. Robin have her very snug little 
nest ? Who do you think it was that woke up the 
little Robins ? Who did the birdies see waking 
up one morning ? Tell me who came to the big 
tree's party ? Who do you think woke them all up 
that spring ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Choose a very tall person (preferably 
one of the teachers) to be the tall tree. Then choose 
Mr. and Mrs. Robin. Let them build their nest by 
the tall tree and pick five little baby birds to live in 
it with them. Choose the butterfly, and let it make 
believe hang in its cocoon cradle from One of the 
branches of the tree. Choose some sunbeams, some 
birds, bees, and butterflies, also some violets, cro- 
cuses, buttercups, snowdrops (one of each will do if 
there are not many children). Choose the wind to 
rock the cocoon cradle, bring the invitations and 
sing soft music at the party. The wind may then 
rock the cocoon cradle until the butterfly comes out 
while the baby birds watch him. The wind may 
bring the invitations, the baby birds may learn to 
fly, and finally all may gather together at the apple 
tree for the party. 

Picture 

Spring flowers growing or budding and blooming. 



The Risen and Ascended Lord 



97 



Blackboard 




Memory Gem 

Ci The happy birds are singing, singing, singing, 

Oh, let the children listen to their song ; 
From sunny climes we're winging, winging, winging, 

From skies that glow and glisten all day long. 
Oh children, lift your voice and sing 

To Him who gives the wondrous Spring, 
The springtime, the springtime, 

The happy, happy springtime." 

(From Sunday Songs for Little Singers, published by the 
Sunday School Union, 57 Ludgate Hill, London, price is.) 



Lesson 30 
Jesus' New Life (Luke 24 : 1-9). 
Golden Text. He is risen (Matt. 28 : 6). 

Result Sought : 

A deeper interest in Easter time and its meaning. 



98 A Beginners" Course 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

What day is it to-day ? How often does Easter 
Sunday come ? What is this I hold in my hand ? 
What color is an Easter lily ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Long, long ago, there lived upon the earth One 
whose life was as pure and beautiful as this lily 1 
have in my hand. We have lately been hearing 
stories about him, beautiful stories about his beau- 
tiful life. This was Jesus, the same Jesus who took 
the children in his arms and said, " Suffer little 
children to come unto me. " 

But though he was loving and kind and always 
doing helpful things to people, some cruel men who 
did not know him very well, put him to death. 
After he was dead, some of his friends buried his 
body in a cave in a beautiful garden, and rolled a 
large stone up against the door to keep it safe. His 
friends were greatly troubled because Jesus was dead 
for they thought they would never see him alive 
again. But they need not have been so troubled.. 
Shall I tell you why ? 

Early one morning some women friends of Jesus* 
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, and some others, 
arose and set out for the garden where Jesus was 
buried. They had spices and sweet-smelling per- 
fume to take with them. As they went along one 
of them said : " Who will roll away the stone that is 
at the door ? ' ' For they knew the big stone was much 
too heavy for them to remove. While they were still 



The Risen and Ascended Lord 99 

thinking of this they came to the garden. Then they 
saw that the stone was already rolled away. They 
were surprised and hurried to the door. Looking in, 
they found the cave quite empty ; the body of Jesus 
was not there. Then they grew frightened and 
bowed their heads with sorrow and grief. But pres- 
ently they saw a strange sight ; two men in white 
garments all glistening with a golden light stood by 
them. Very early that morning, so early that there 
was scarcely any light, there had been a great earth- 
quake, and in the midst of it one of these men, all 
clad in shining garments, had come from heaven and 
rolled away the great stone from the door. 

As the women gazed at the two men with uplifted 
eyes full of wonder, the men spoke and said : " Be 
not afraid. Why seek ye Jesus ? He is not here. 
He is risen from the dead. He is alive once more. 
Remember ye not how he said : ' The third day after 
I die I will rise again ? ' Then the women remem- 
bered, and they were filled with joy to think that 
Jesus, their friend, was alive once more. They left 
the garden and hurried home to tell Peter and John 
and the others the wonderful news. The others 
could not believe at first what the women told them, 
it was all so wonderful. Peter and John, starting up, 
ran to the garden to see for themselves. 

But that same evening they all knew that it was 
true, for Jesus came to the house where they were all 
gathered together and took supper with them. He 
told them some more of his wonderful stories, too. 
How glad they all were to have him back again. 
That is why we are always so happy when Easter 



loo A Beginners' Course 

Sunday comes. We remember the time that Jesus 
arose from the dead. And that is also why we sing 
our Easter son^s and have these beautiful Easter 
lilies. 

3. Transition. 

Who were going one morning to the garden where 
kind friends had laid the body of Jesus ? What did 
they find when they came to the garden ? How did 
they feel when they found the cave emp'y ? What 
did the shining men tell them ? What did the 
women do next ? Who came to see them that even- 
ing ? How did they feel when Jesus was back 
amongst them again ? Why do we have the beau- 
tiful lilies in Sunday-school to-day ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. Place the Easter lilies in such a posi- 
tion that they can be seen by all, and allow the 
children to draw them as they see them. 

Picture 

Women at the Sepulcher, by Bougereau. 

Blackboard 




The Risen and Ascended Lord 101 

Lesson 31 

Jesus Going Back to Heaven (Luke 24:36=53). 

Golden Text : In my Father's house are many man- 
sions (John 14 : 2). 

Result Sought : 

An appreciation of the heavenly life. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin the lesson to-day by a talk with the children 
about visitors. 

Did you ever have visitors at your house ? Who 
were they ? How long did they stay ? Do you 
remember the day they went away ? What did they 
say to you ? What did they say to your mother ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

To-day we are going to hear how at last Jesus 
said " good-by " to his friends and went away to his 
home in heaven, to live with his heavenly Father. 

His friends did not want him to leave them, but 
Jesus could not stay with them always. So one 
beautiful morning he met them to say "good-by." 
"Come, follow me," he said, and led them out of 
the city ; out through the great gate and along the 
road, until they came to the hillside. Here they 
came to a path leading to the top of the hill. Up 
this path Jesus led them. They passed by the gar- 
dens and the vineyards, where the grapes were grow- 
ing, by the olive and the date trees ; on they went 
until they came to the top. 



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& 



Then Jesus turned and they all gathered around 
him. He talked to them a while, telling them things 
he wanted them to do. And as they listened to his 
gentle voice, and watched his beautiful face, they 
said to themselves : " Ah, yes, we will indeed do these 
things that he tells us ; as long as we live we will do 
things to help other people as he has done." 

Then Jesus said "good-by" to them, and lifting 
his hand, he looked around at them all and prayed 
the heavenly Father to bless all the dear friends that 
he was leaving. Even while he was praying, he was 
taken away from them up into the heavens. They 
watched him as he ascended higher and higher, until 
a white cloud came and hid him from sight. Then 
they saw him no more. They knew that Jesus had 
gone to his home in heaven. 

While they were all still gazing upwards, two men 
all in pure white garments, with a wonderful light shin- 
ing in their faces, came and stood with them and 
said : " Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye here gazing 
up into heaven ? Jesus has gone home to the heav- 
enly Father, but ye need not be sorrowful, for he will 
come again some day." And they went away. Then 
the friends of Jesus turned and went back down the 
path and into the city. They were not sad now, 
since the men in the white robes had told them that 
Jesus would come again, so they went to the big 
church called the Temple and sang hymns, songs of 
praise, just as we do here in Sunday-school. 

3. Transition. 

Where did Jesus take the people to say "good- 



The Risen and Ascended Lord 103 

by " to them ? How did he leave them ? What did 
the two men in white robes tell them ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Sand-tray. ' Let the children help you build in one 
corner of the sand-tray the city gates, and then 
mold the road and the mountain. It will probably 
be better not to picture the action of the story, but to 
leave in the minds of the children simply a picture 
of the scene of the events. 

Picture 

Ascension, by Dore. 



Lesson 32 
Our New Life (Rev. 21 : 1=4, 21-27). 

Golden Text : In my Father's house are many man- 
sions (John 14 : 2). 

Result Sought: 

An appreciation of the heavenly home. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin the lesson by a talk with the children about 
houses and homes. Talk about the dolls' houses as 
homes for the dollies, and birds' nests as homes for 
the birds. From these lead to a talk about the homes 
the children live in. 

As I was going along the street the other day, I 
met a little girl who was crying. She was cold, and 
said to me ; " I want to go home." Why did she 



104 A Beginners" Course 

want to go home ? Because mother was there, and 
there was a fire to warm her. 

Bring out the points that we love our homes because 
they are warm and lighted, and there is plenty to eat 
and drink ; because there are pictures on the walls, 
and picture-books and toys ; because mother is there, 
and father and sisters and brothers, etc. At this 
stage in the lesson do not talk about the moral atmos- 
phere, but rather the physical conditions in the home. 
It might be well to have a child who has been away 
from home and experienced homesickness relate his 
experience. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Begin the story by a talk with the children about 
the home-life of Jesus. Perhaps they will be able to 
tell you some things about his birthplace in Bethlehem 
and the carpenter's home in Nazareth. After speak- 
ing of these different earthly homes, tell the children 
that Jesus' real home was in heaven, where his 
Father lived. 

Last Sunday we learned how he left his friends and 
went up, up through the clouds, to his home with the 
dear Father God. But before Jesus went away from 
them, he told his friends that some day they would 
come and live with him in heaven, and that he was 
going to make ready a beautiful home for all his 
friends and all those who loved him, as we do. 
Would you like to know what this home is like ? 

John, one of Jesus' friends, had a vision one time, 
and in it he saw the beautiful heavenly home. He 
has told us all about it. He saw a beautiful city of 



The Risen and Ascended Lord 105 

pure gold, polished so that it shone like clear glass. 
All about it were jasper walls, decorated with precious 
stones — sapphires, emeralds, and amethysts, and 
many others. In the walls were twelve wonderful gates, 
which always stood wide open. Each gate was made 
of one great white pearl, and beside it stood a shining 
angel. All the streets were of gold, as clear as glass, 
and in them were ever and ever so many little boys 
and girls playing. The light that shone upon the 
city was brighter than the sun ; there was never any 
darkness or night, for the light never faded away. 
Through the midst of the city flowed a clear, cool 
river. 

But best of all, the dear Father God was living 
there. No one could be sad or sorrowful, for the 
Father wiped all the tears away and made every one 
happy. All the people were kind to one another, 
too, and tried to make one another happy. And all 
the boys and girls and the men and women gathered 
together in a great chorus and sang songs of praise 
to the dear Father God. Some of the angels in white 
robes waved palm branches and made most beautiful 
music upon their golden harps, all to show how 
happy they were, living there with the heavenly Father 
and Jesus. 

Let us all bow our heads and ask the kind heavenly 
Father to help us do the right, so that we may be fit 
to live in the beautiful place that Jesus has made 
ready for us. 

3. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let us all stand up and sing a song of praise to 
the kind heavenly Father. 



io6 A Beginners Course 

Here allow the children to sing three verses of : 

" Praise him, praise him, 
All ye little children." 

Picture 

Vision of St. John the Evangelist on the Isle of 
Patmos, by Dolci. 



JESUS' NEARNESS TO US 

Golden Text for Lessons 33 and 34 : I am with 
you alway (Matt. 28: 20). 



Lesson 33 

Jesus' Promise of Nearness (John 14 : 18-23 > 
16 : 16=22 ; Matt. 28 : 20). 

Result Sought : 

A consciousness of the heavenly Father's near- 
ness. 

Suggestion to Teachers : 

There is no lesson story in the lesson material 
suggested by the committee- for to-day. We must 
supply one. Instead of choosing one from the Bible, 
we have chosen one of Maud Lindsay's beautiful 
mother stories, "The King's Birthday." The story 
is based upon the following motto : 

" Let the child feel Christ is near him ; 
By your faith will grow his own ; 
Death nor danger will affright him 
If he never feels alone." 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin the lesson by a few review questions on 
Jesus' story of the lost sheep. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Little Carl and his mother came home from the 

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cb 



country one sweet summer day, because it was the 
king's birthday, and all the city was to be glad and 
gay, and the king would ride on his fine gray horse 
for the people to see. 

Little Carl had gathered a very fine bunch of 
flowers to throw before the king. He had marigolds 
and pinks and pansies, and they had all grown in 
his mother's garden. 

This was a great day for little boy Carl, and before 
he started from home he told every thing good-by, the 
brindle calf and the mooley cow, and the sheep and 
little white lambs. 

11 Good-by!" he said; " I am going to see the 
king." 

The way was long, but Carl did not complain. He 
trudged bravely on by his mother's side, holding the 
flowers tightly in his little hand, and looking out of 
his great blue eyes for the king, in case the king 
should ride out to meet them. 

Every now and then Carl wished for his father, 
who was obliged to work in the fields all day, and 
who had been up and away before Carl was awake. 
Carl thought of the fine sights his father was missing, 
especially when they came to the city, where the flags 
were flying from every steeple and housetop and 
window. 

There were as many people in the city as there 
were birds in the country ; and when the drums beat, 
the crowd rushed forward, and everybody called 
at once: "The king! the king! Long live the 
king!" 

Carl's mother lifted him up in her arms that he 



Jesus' Nearness to Us 109 

might see. The king rode slowly along on his great 
gray horse, with all his fine ladies and gentlemen 
behind him ; and little Carl threw his flowers with 
the rest and waved his cap in his hand. 

He felt sorry for his flowers after he had thrown 
them., because they were trampled under the horses' 
feet; and the king didn't care; and after that he 
felt very tired, and his little hot hand slipped from 
his mother' s and he was carried away in the crowd. 

He thought that his mother would surely come. 
But there were only strange faces about him, and he 
was such a little lad that nobody noticed him ; and 
at last he was left behind, all alone. 

He was very miserable, and the tears rolled down 
his cheeks ; but he remembered that it was the 
king's birthday, and that everybody must be glad, so 
he wiped the tears away as he trudged along. 

There were wonderful houses along the street, 
with great gardens in front ; and Carl thought that 
they must belong to the king, but he did not want to 
go in. They were all too fine for him. But at last 
he reached one which stood off by itself and had a 
tall, tall steeple and great doors, through which 
hundreds of people were coming. 

" Perhaps my mama is there," thought little Carl. 
After he had watched all the people come out, and 
had not seen her, he went up the white marble steps 
and through the doors, and found himself all alone 
in a very beautiful place. 

The roof of the house was held up by great strong 
pillars, and the floor had as many patterns on it as 
his mother's patchwork; and on every side he saw 



HO A Beginners' Course 



cb 



windows — beautiful windows like picture-books — and 
when he had seen one he wanted to see another, as 
you do when you are looking at picture-books. 

Some of the windows had jewels and crowns upon 
them ; some had sheaves of lilies ; and others had 
lovely faces and men wth harps ; and at last he 
came to one great window which was different from 
the rest and lovelier than any of them. 

The other windows were like picture-books, but 
this one was like home; for there were sheep in it 
and flowers, and a dear, gentle Man, with a loving 
face, and he had a lamb in his arms. 

When little Carl looked at this window, he crept 
very close under it, and, laying his head on his arm, 
sobbed himself to sleep. 

While he slept, the sunbeams came through the 
window and made bright circles round his head, and 
the white doves that lived in the church tower flew 
through an open window to look at him. 

' 'It is good to live in the church tower, " cooed 
the white doves to each other, " for the bells are up 
there ; and then we can fly down here and see the 
dear Christ's face. See ! here is one of his little 
ones ! " 

" Coo, coo," said the white doves softly; "we 
cannot speak so loudly as the bells, nor make our- 
selves heard so far ; but we can fly where we please, 
and they must stay always up there." 

All this cooing did not waken little boy Carl, for 
he was dreaming a beautiful dream about a king who 
had a face like the Good Man in the window,* and 
who was carrying Carl in his arms instead of a 



Jesus Nearness to Us 1 1 1 

lamb, and was taking him to his mother; and just 
as he dreamed that they reached her, Carl woke up, 
for he heard somebody talking in the church. 

He lay still and listened, for this seemed part of 
the dream. Somebody was talking about him, and 
the words were very plain to Carl : 

"Dear Father in Heaven, I have lost my little 
boy. I am like Mary seeking for the Christ-child. 
For his sake, give me my little child. ' ' 

Carl knew that voice, and in an instant he ran 
out crying : 

" Mother ! mother ! here ami!" 

And in all the joy of the king's birthday there 
was no joy so great as theirs. 

3. Transition. 

Why did Carl and his mother leave the country 
one day and come to the city ? What happened to 
him after the king had gone by ? What kind of a 
house did he go into ? What was the picture in the 
best window of all ? Who do you think the gentle 
Man in the picture was ? What did Carl do when 
he came to this window? What was Carl's dream 
about? When he woke up, what did he hear? 
Whose voice was it? Who took care of Carl and 
brought his mother back to him ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children express their ideas of this story 
by drawing. 

Picture 

The Good Shepherd, by Plockhorst. 



112 A Beginners' Course* 



<s 



Memory Gem 

GOD IS NEAR 
" In the dark and silent night, 

Little child, you need not fear; 
Just as much as in the light 
God is near — God is near ! " 



Lesson 34 

Jesus' Nearness to Paul (Acts 18: 1=1 1 ; 2 Tim. 

4: 16=18). 
Golden Text: I am with you alway (Matt. 28:20). 

Result Sought : 

A consciousness of the heavenly Father's near- 
ness. 

Suggestion to Teachers : 

It seems to us most difficult to confine ourselves 
in this lesson to the story recommended by the com- 
mittee. We do not want to teach theology to the 
little child, but rather to give him a consciousness of 
God's nearness to him. Whether that nearness be 
in the person of the Father, Son or Holy Spirit mat- 
ters little. The teacher will do well to keep clear of 
such distinctions with her very little people. We 
have, therefore, felt quite free to choose for our 
lesson material from other scenes in the life of St. 
Paul. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever feel frightened ? What was it that 
made you feel afraid ? 



Jesus' Nearness to Us 113 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day is about a man who was not 
afraid, although he was in great danger. This 
man's name was Paul. He traveled about from 
place to place telling people stories about Jesus ; tell- 
ing them how kind and good he was. He tried, too, 
to help people and be kind to them as Jesus had 
done. 

One time some wicked men thought they would 
try and frighten Paul, so they told him that if he did 
not stop talking about Jesus they would put him into 
prison. But Paul did not mind them in the least, he 
just went on telling about Jesus and was not afraid. 
Shall I tell you why ? He knew that the kind Father, 
God, was near him and would take care of him. 

One time something happened which might have 
frightened him very much indeed. He was on board 
a ship taking a journey across a great sea, when a 
very big storm came up. The ship was tossed about 
and rocked up and down. The waves dashed high 
and sometimes came down and washed right over 
the decks. The people who were on board thought 
that all would surely be drowned in the sea. But 
Paul was not afraid. 

One night when it was very dark, the sailors 
thought they must be coming near the land, and 
they were afraid that the ship might strike against 
the rocks. So tbey put out the big anchors and 
stopped the ship for the night. 

Then Paul said to the sailors and to the rest of the 
people : " Come now and eat something." They had 
eaten nothing for a long time, for the storm had 



114 ^ Beginners Course 

made them too anxious and frightened to eat. So 
Paul asked a blessing upon the food and then he told 
them not to be afraid, for the heavenly Father was 
near, and would take care of them. After that they 
all felt better. 

When the daylight began to come, they could see 
the land, so they cast off the anchors and put up 
the sails to go ashore. But they did not know 
the way to go. Very soon the ship ran upon a bank 
of sand, and they could not get it off. Then the 
waves came so hard and fast that they broke 
the ship, and the people could stay in it no longer. 
The officer in charge told all those who could swim to 
jump into the water. This they did, and the rest of 
the people took boards and pieces broken off from 
the ship and they, too, got into the water. Then the 
waves carried them along and washed them ashore, 
until everybody was quite safe. 

The people on the shore were very kind to the 
shipwrecked sailors. The weather was cold and 
rainy, so they made a big fire for them. Paul gath- 
ered a large bundle of sticks to put upon the fire. As 
he placed them there, a poisonous viper, which had 
been awakened by the warm fire from its sleep, 
crawled out and fastened itself upon Paul's hand. 
Paul shook it off, and everybody looked at him, 
and expected to see him fall ill from the bite. But 
he was not harmed, for the heavenly Father took care 
of him still. 

3. Transition. 

How did the wicked men try to frighten Paul when 



Jesus' Nearness to Us 1 1 5 

they heard him telling about Jesus ? Why was not 
Paul frightened ? What happened one time when he 
went on a journey across the sea ? How did the 
people feel ? How did Paul feel ? Why ? How did 
it all end ? What happened to Paul when they were 
on the shore ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children draw their ideas of the lesson 

story. 

Picture 

Paul's Shipwreck. 



OBEDIENCE 

Golden Text for Lessons 35 and 36 : We must obey 
God (Acts 5 : 29). 



Lesson 35 
Gideon and the Three Hundred (Judg. 7 : 12-21). 

Result Sought: 

Readiness to obey. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin a talk with the children about large families. 
What is the largest family you know ? How many 
children in it ? etc., etc. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Long ago, in a land called Palestine, there lived 
very happily together a large family of people called 
the children of Israel. They had houses and farms 
and gardens, and sheep and cattle. The boys and 
girls were very happy because they had plenty to eat 
and plenty to wear, and could play and run upon the 
hillsides. 

But by and by some strangers came riding over 
the river into this country. There were very many 
of them and they rode upon tall, graceful camels. 
One could tell that they were rich and powerful, for 
the camels on which they rode were decorated with 
silver collars and long chains. Striped blankets with 
116 



Obedience 1 1 7 

tassels were spread upon their backs. The tall men 
with dark faces who led the rest wore purple gar- 
ments trimmed with gold. Gold rings were on their 
fingers and gold bracelets on their arms. They 
stopped in the green valley by the river and put up 
their tents. There were so many tents that the 
children of Israel, looking down upon them from the 
hills, said to one another : " There are as many of 
these fierce-looking strangers as there are grass- 
hoppers in the grass." 

The strangers did not soon go away ; they stayed 
and fought the children of Israel and robbed them 
in the night-time, carrying away their cows and 
sheep and corn until there was almost nothing left. 
At last, for fear that the strangers would kill them, 
the fathers and mothers had to take their boys and 
girls and leave their homes to go and hide in caves 
and holes in the hills. 

They did not know how to drive the strangers out 
of the land. When they found they could not help 
themselves, they prayed to the Father in heaven, and 
asked him to send them some one who would help 
them. So one day as a tall and strong young man 
was working in his home in the country, trying to get 
some food for his father and himself, he noticed a 
stranger sitting under a big oak tree near by. This 
man did not look fierce and cruel like the other 
strangers, and when he spoke the young man knew 
that he was an angel from the Father in heaven. 
The angel said : " Go, Gideon, God sendeth thee to 
save the children of Israel from the strangers." At 
first Gideon could hardly believe that the angel 



Ii8 A Beginners Course 

meant him, for he was quite a young man, although 
so tall and brave. But he obeyed God's angel and 
went forth, sounding a great trumpet to call the 
young men to come and help him. And he sent 
messengers into all the country beating drums to call 
the people. 

Gideon told them as they came how an angel had 
come with a message from the heavenly Father tell- 
ing him to go forth and drive away the strangers. A 
great many men, from all the country round, came to 
Gideon, and when they saw what a brave man he 
was, they were glad that God had sent him to be their 
leader. When Gideon counted all the men he said 
to himself: "There are too many people here." 
For the heavenly Father told him that they could do 
better with fewer. So he told them : "If any are 
fearful or afraid, let them now go back to their 
homes," and a good many men left and went back 
home. Gideon counted ?,11 that were left, and said 
that there were still too many. So he led them all 
to the river and told them to drink. Some of the 
men dipped the water up with their hands ; others 
kneeled down and drank right from the river. There 
were three hundred of those who dipped up the water 
with their hands, and these Gideon put by them- 
selves. "These men," he said, "will go down with 
me to fight the strangers, for so the Lord hath told 
me to choose." 

All the others went home, but Gideon with the 
three hundred men stayed upon the hillside, and as 
they looked down they could see the tents and the 
soldiers of the strangers in the green valley. 



Obedience 1 1 9 

When the night came, Gideon gave each man a 
trumpet and a pitcher and a torch ; he did not give 
them swords or guns, he knew that they could 
frighten away the strangers without these. The 
lighted torches they put inside of the pitchers, so that 
the lights should not be seen. Then Gideon told 
them to follow him, and to do just as he did. They 
crept down the hillside until they came to the tents 
of the strangers. There it was all quiet, for nearly 
every one was asleep. Softly they stole along until 
they had made a ring around the tents. When all 
was ready, Gideon blew a long, loud blast on his 
trumpet. Then all the three hundred men blew 
their trumpets as loud as they could. Such a noise 
as they made ! Then they all broke their pitchers with 
a great crash and the bright torches inside flared up 
They waved the flaming lights high over their heads 
and all shouted together: "The sword of the Lord 
and of Gideon ! " Again they blew their trumpets, 
and again, and again. The strangers could not tell 
what had happened. They were blinded by the 
flaming torches, and with loud cries they all fled 
from the place. Gideon and his men chased them 
and drove them away across the river and up into 
the hills. The strangers were so frightened and 
beaten that they never again came back to trouble 
the children of Israel. 

3. Transition. 

What did the strangers do when they came into 
the land of the children of Israel ? What did the 
children of Israel have to do ? When they found 



120 



A Bcgi)i7^e7's' 1 Course 



they could not help themselves what did they do ? 
What did the brave man Gideon do when the Father 
in heaven told him to go and help drive away the 
strangers ? How did they drive them away ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

A good many physical exercises are suggested by 
this lesson story. The teacher can pick out the 
most suitable ones, such as marching, blowing of the 
trumpets, beating the drums, dipping up the water 
with the hand, drinking while kneeling, breaking the 
pitchers, waving the torches, shouting the battle cry, 
''The sword of the Lord and of Gideon," etc. 
While the children march around they might sing a 
marching song. 

Picture 

Gideon puts the Midianites to Flight, by Dore. 

Blackboard 



A A AAAA 
AAAAAAA 
AAAAAAA a 
AMAAAA 

AA^AAATA 
AAAAAAAA 




Memory Gem 

Now they listen and obey, 
Following where he leads the way ; 
Heavenly Father, may we be 
Thus obedient unto Thee." 



Obedience 1 2 i 

Lesson 36 
Peter and John Obeying God (Acts 5 : 17=32). 
Golden Text : We must obey God (Acts 5 : 29). 

Result Sought : 

Readiness to obey. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever see a picture of an angel ? What 
was he like ? What was he doing ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

We are going to have a story to-day about an 
angel who helped two men do what they were told 
to do. 

Peter and John, Jesus' friends, were staying one 
time in the city with the great church and the high 
wall. They were living there among the poor people, 
for their Father in heaven had told them to help the 
poor people and those who were sick and sad and 
lame. And so they obeyed him and went about the 
streets and said kind words to those who were un- 
happy ; they touched the ears of deaf people and 
sent them home glad because they could hear their 
friends speaking and the birds singing, and they 
could hear the beautiful music that other people 
loved so much. They laid their hands upon the 
eyes of the blind people, and opened them, so that 
when they looked up they could see the blue sky and 
the trees and streets and houses and, best of all,. 
their brothers and sisters and friends. They some- 
times went to the Beautiful Gate of the temple where 



122 A Beginners* Cours 



cb 



they had helped the lame man of whom we learned, 
and cured the poor beggars who had to sit there 
because they could do nothing for themselves. All who 
were ill they helped, until many persons loved the 
names of Peter and John, and would bring all their 
friends who were sick out into the streets that they 
might be cured as the good men passed along. And 
people in other cities heard about the kind men and 
brought their sick friends to the great city with the 
high wall, for Peter and John to cure them also. 

Now some of the great men in the city heard about 
these things that Peter and John were doing, and 
became jealous and sent soldiers who took Peter 
and John, and binding their hands led them to 
prison. But Peter and John knew that the Father 
in heaven would take care of them, and sure 
enough at night there came an angel from God 
who opened the prison doors and led them out 
through the gate until they were under the beautiful 
starry sky once more. It was all done so quietly that 
nobody knew anything about it. He told them not 
to obey the men who were trying to make them stop 
doing kind things. "Go," he said, 'stand in the 
great church. Talk to the people — tell them about 
Jesus and help them all you can." Peter and John 
hurried home through the quiet streets, and the next 
morning bright and early they obeyed the angel, and 
went forth again among the poor people who loved 
them. As they were talking in the great church, 
some soldiers came to take them away. For the great 
men were very much surprised and angry when they 
found that Peter and John had escaped from prison. 



Obedience 123 

They were just wondering how they could find them 
when a man came running in to tell them that they 
were in the great church. The soldiers brought 
Peter and John to the big house where all the great 
men were sitting together. The tall man with white 
hair and blue robes said to them, " Did we not com- 
mand that ye should not do these things or speak in 
the great church ? Why do ye disobey us ?" Then 
Peter spoke, "The Father in heaven hath told us to 
do these things," he said. " We obey him." 

Then most of the great men were very angry and 
would have killed Peter and John, but one of them, 
who was very wise, stood up and said no, it would be 
better just to punish them and let them go. And so 
Peter and John were punished, but just as soon as 
they were free once more they went about curing 
people and talking to them and helping them just as 
they had done before. 

3. Transition. 

What did Peter and John do in the city of the 
great church ? What did the great men do when 
they heard about it ? How long did they stay in 
prison ? What did the angel tell them to do ? What 
did they do as soon as they came out ? What hap- 
pened next ? What did Peter and John say to the 
great men ? When they were free, what did they 
immediately do ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children express their ideas of the story 
by drawing. 

Picture 
The Apostles Preaching, by Dore. 



HONESTY 

Golden Text for Lessons 37 to 39: Let us walk 
honestly (Rom. 13 : 13). 



Lesson 37 

The Honest Workmen (2 Chron. 24 : 4, 8=14 ; 
2 Kings 12: 11=15). 

Result Sought: 

Faithfulness. 

Suggestions to Teachers : 

We cannot help feeling that a great mistake has 
been made in introducing this theme into this course 
of lessons. These little people are so much under 
the influence of suggestion that it is surely unwise 
for us to even suggest the idea of dishonesty. Not 
only is the topic unwisely chosen, but the material 
for all three lessons, 37, 38 and 39, is most un- 
suitable. 

In attempting to teach honesty from the lesson 
suggested for No. 37, even to adults, one would have 
to put into the context that which is not really taught. 
Faithfulness is there, but certainly not honesty. The 
story of Gehazi teaches dishonesty, but such a story 
is not good material to present to the little people. It 
is true we teach by comparisons, but the story of 
Gehazi is altogether too suggestive of wrong doing. 

The story of the honest treasurers in Ezra is one 
124 



Honesty 125 

that is so absolutely beyond the child's plane of 
experience that we are sure it also should be omitted. 
We have, therefore, introduced three beautiful 
stories, each of which will suggest faithfulness or 
diligence, although not necessarily honesty. We are 
sure that these stories will present to the child mind 
better image forming material for character building 
than those which have been omitted. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many have ever seen a busy bee ? What 
does it look like ? What does it do all day long ? 
Why does it gather honey ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

We have a story to-day about a Bee, but this little 
fellow was not a busy Bee, for it did not like to work. 
It lived in a beehive at the lower end of an old 
garden. 

It belonged to the Working Bees. It was always 
wishing it had been born a Drone, for the Drones 
have nothing to do all day but fly out with the Queen 
Bee when she wishes to take the air. But this dis- 
contented Bee was not a Drone, and so the others 
would not allow it to be idle. Its work was to gather 
the material for making wax, and this it did not like 
at all. This Bee had some nice brushes on its legs 
for sweeping the pollen off the flowers it visited, and 
two nice baskets on its hind legs for storing it away, 
and it could fly all over the garden to the flowers it 
liked best, but the truth was, it was too lazy to exert 



126 A Beginners" Course 

itself much, and it would fly about so slowly its 
neighbors would empty twice as many baskets as 
it did. 

It was often scolded for its idleness, and often 
another bee, finding it moping on a rosebush, would 
drive it to work. 

As it was not busy, of course it was miserable and 
unhappy. 

One day this idle Bee made up its mind that it 
would not work at all, so it flew off by itself until it 
came to a beautiful Nasturtium which had a long tube 
of honey. In a most polite tone it said : My dear 
Flower, as I see that your door is wide open, I hope 
you will allow me to come in and rest and spend the 
day with you ; I am so tired." 

"Rest," said the Nasturtium, "why the day has 
only begun — I have no place for all the bees that 
come. Please leave my door free." 

" Hard-hearted Flower," hummed the Bee, "I'll 
try this soft white Lily. 

More graciously than before it spoke — 

"Dear Lily, you have a kind heart, will you give 
me a place to rest for the day ? ' ' 

"But you ought to be working," said the Lily, 
" everybody has some work to do — I will give you 
some of my best yellow pollen to carry home, but 
that is all I can do for you.' ' 

"No; thank you," said the Bee, "these culti- 
vated flowers have such high notions. Now that little 
Red Clover in the grass has the best honey of any of 
them, and she will surely befriend a poor, tired 
Bee." 



Honesty 127 

It flew straight into the heart of the Clover without 
so much as saying, " By your leave.' ' 

After some time the Clover began to be angry and 
said — 

"What are you doing here so long, lazy Bee ? I 
am not able to fill my honey-jar while you are here ; 
if you want any honey fly off with it." And she 
shook her head so violently that the idle Bee had to 
fly away for safety. 

It crawled on the ground to a melon patch but the 
gardener's hose drove it away. 

" There does not seem to be any place for me," 
sighed the Bee — " I'll crawl under the plank and rest 
a minute." 

It did not hear the gardener coming along the 
plank, and the man did not know that there was a 
bee under the plank. He put his foot on it, and the 
Bee suddenly found itself in a dark, lonely hole in 
the ground. 

It buzzed round and round, vainly trying to get 
out, but could find no opening anywhere, and did 
not know as it would ever see the birds and flowers 
again. 

It thought of the bright warm sunshine, of the 
merry breezes and beautiful flowers ; and the poor 
Bee thought within itself, "How gladly would I 
now fill my honey-baskets and work all the day with 
my brothers and sisters," and strange to say, at that 
moment the gardener lifted the heavy plank away — 
and the Bee flew swiftly to the garden, anxious to see 
how many times it could fill its baskets with honey 
before sunset. 



128 A Beginners' Course 

3. Transition. 

Why did not the little Bee want to work ? What 
did it say to the Nasturtium one day ? What did the 
Nasturtium say ? Who did it go to next ? What did 
the Lily say ? Who did it then go to ? What did 
the Clover tell it ? What happened after that ? How 
did it feel under the plank ? When the Bee escaped 
from the plank what did it fly away to do ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Choose the gardener and let him plant 

some flowers ; for example, roses, nasturtiums, lilies 

and clover. Let all the rest be busy bees. Allow 

them to make their hive and go from flower to flower 

gaily gathering honey and taking it back to the 

hive. 

Picture 

Bees Gathering Honey. 

" Oh, where is the busy, busy little maid, 
To help us work to-day ? 
Oh, where is the happy, happy little maid, 
To join us in our play ? 

" I see her stand at my right hand ; 
She is so bright and steady. 
To clean and sweep, the house to keep, 
For work or play she's ready." 

Lesson 38 
The Dishonest Servant (2 Kings 5 : 20-27). 
Golden Text: Let us walk honestly (Rom. 13 113). 

Result Sought : 

Faithfulness. 



Honesty 129 

Suggestions to Teachers : 

See Lesson 37. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin the lesson to-day by a review of the story 
' ■ Not a Busy Bee," and from it lead up to this lesson 
story. 

2. Lesson Story. 

There was once a little girl named Amy Stewart, 
who liked to play all day in the garden among the 
flowers and birds. She said they talked to her. 

One day her mother said : " You are old enough 
now, Amy, to do a little work, and you must begin 
early to be industrious." 

" O mama, I do not like to work ; may I not go 
in the woods and play before I begin to work ? ' ' 

" As I have nothing ready for you to do just now, 
you may go for a little while, ' ' said her mother. 

So Amy ran out of doors. A pretty gray squirrel 
ran across her path, and she called to him, saying : 
" Dear squirrel, you have nothing to do but play and 
eat nuts, have you ? " 

" Yes," said Mr. Squirrel, " I have a large family 
to support, and I am busy laying up nuts for the 
winter ; so I cannot stop to play with you. 

Just then a bee came buzzing by. Amy said : 
'* Little bee, do you have any work to do ? " 

"It seems to me I have no time for anything but 
work, getting honey and making the honeycomb." 
Amy now saw an ant carrying a crumb of bread. 



130 A Beginners Course 

" Is not that crumb too heavy for you ? I wish 
you would drop it and play with me " 

"It is heavy, but I am too glad to get it not to be 
willing to carry it ; but I will stop long enough to tell 
you about a lazy day we once had. Our house was 
destroyed, and I was too lazy to help rebuild it, 
and I said to my brothers : ' Let us go and travel ; 
perhaps we can find a house ready-made ; perhaps 
the butterflies will play with us. ' We traveled a long 
way, but we found no ready-made house, and at last 
we were obliged to build one for ourselves. Since 
then we have been contented to do all the work that 
we find necessary. " The ant then picked up the 
crumb of bread and hurried away. 

Amy sat down on a stone and thought : "It seems 
to me all creatures have some work to do, and they 
seem to like it ; but I do not believe flowers have 
anything to do." So she walked up to a red poppy, 
and said : ' ' Beautiful Red Poppy, do flowers work ? ' ' 

11 Of course we do," said the Poppy. " I have to 
take great care to gather all the red rays the good 
sun sends down to me, and I must keep them in 
silken petals for you to use ; and the green rays must 
be untangled and held by my glossy leaves ; and 
my roots must drink water, and my flowers must 
watch the days not to let the seed-time pass by, — 
ah, my child, I assure you we are a busy family, 
and that is why we are so happy." 

Amy walked slowly homeward, and said to her 
mother : " The squirrels, bees, ants, and even the 
flowers, have something to do. I am the only idle 
one ; please give me some work to do." 



Honesiy 1 3 1 

Then her mother gave her a plate of crumbs and 
told her to go out and feed the chickens. After that 
she did many things to help her mother and became 
a happier little girl than ever before. 

3. Transition. 

What did Amy like to do all day long ? What did 
her mother say to her one day ? Who did Amy meet 
as soon as she went into the woods that day ? What 
did she ask the Gray Squirrel ? What did the Squir- 
rel answer ? Who did she meet next ? What did he 
say to her ? What little fellow did she see after that ? 
What was he carrying ? What did he tell her ? 
What did the Red Poppy tell her ? When Amy got 
home what did she ask her mother ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Physical. Choose the squirrel and his family, a 
number of busy bees, some ants, and some flowers. 
Choose a teacher to be a tree and let Mr. Squirrel 
make his home at the foot of it. Then have him and 
his family go to work gathering nuts. Have the 
busy bees buzz around from flower to flower and back 
to their hive in the corner. Allow the ants to crawl 
busily to and fro, and have some of the flowers busy 
growing straight and tall in the sun. 

Picture 

Little Girl Feeding Chickens. 

Lesson 39 

The Honest Treasurers (Ezra 8: 21-34). 

Golden Text : Let us walk honestly (Rom. 13 : 13). 



132 A Beginners' Course 

Result Sought : 

Faithfulness. 

Suggestion to Teachers: 

See Lesson 37. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Would you like me to tell you a beautiful story ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Long, long ago there lived, in a kingdom faraway, 
five knights who were so good and so wise that each 
one was known by a name that meant something 
beautiful. 

The first knight was called Sir Brian the Brave. 
He had killed the great lion that came out of the for- 
est to frighten the women and children ; had slain a 
dragon, and had saved a princess from a burning 
castle ; for he was afraid of ncthing under the sun. 

The second knight was Gerald the Glad, who was 
so happy himself that he made everybody around him 
happy, too ; for his sweet smile and cheery words 
were so comforting that none could be sad or cross 
or angry when he was near. 

Sir Kenneth the Kind was the third knight, and 
he won his name by his tender heart. Even the 
creatures of the wood knew and loved him, for he 
never hurt anything that God had made. 

The fourth knight had a face as beautiful as his 
name, and he was called Percival the Pure. He 
thought beautiful thoughts, said beautiful words, and 
did beautiful deeds, for he kept his whole life as 



Honesty 133 

lovely as a garden full of flowers without a single 
weed. 

Tristram the True was the last knight, and he was 
leader of them all. 

The king of the country trusted these five knights ; 
and one morning in the early spring-time he called 
them to him and said : 

" My trusty knights, I am growing old, and I long 
to see in my kingdom many knights like you to take 
care of my people ; and so I will send you through 
all my kingdom to choose for me a little boy who may 
live at my court and learn from you those things 
which a knight must know. Only a good child can 
be chosen. A good child is worth more than a king- 
dom. And when you have found him, bring him, if 
he will come willingly, to me, and I shall be happy 
in my old age." '*? 

Now the knights were well pleased with the words 
of the king, and at the first peep of day they were 
ready for their journey, and rode down the king's 
highway with waving plumes and shining shields. 

No sooner had they started on their journey than 
the news spread abroad over the country, and many- 
fathers and mothers who were anxious for the favor of 
the king sent messengers to invite the knights to 
visit them. 

The parents' messages were so full of praises of 
their children that the knights scarcely knew where 
to go. Some of the parents said that their sons were 
beautiful ; some said theirs were smart ; but as the 
knights cared nothing for a child who was not good, 
they did not hurry to see these children. 



134 <A Beginners' Course 

On the second day, however, as they rode along, 
they met a company of men in very fine clothes 
who bowed down before them, and while the knights 
drew rein in astonishment a little man stepped in 
front of the others to speak to them. 

He was a fat little man with a fat little voice, and 
he told the knights that he had come to invite them 
to the castle of the Baron Borribald, whose son, 
Florimond, was the most wonderful child in the world. 

11 Oh ! there is nothing he cannot do," cried the 
fat man whose name was Puff. "You must hear 
him talk ! You must see him walk ! ' ' 

So the knights followed him, and when they had 
reached the castle Florimond ran to meet them. He 
was a merry little fellow, with long fair curls and 
rosy cheeks, and when he saw the fine horses he 
clapped his hands with delight. The baron and 
baroness, too, were well pleased with their visitors 
and made a feast in their honor, but early the next 
morning the knights were startled by a most awful 
sound which seemed to come from the hall below. 

" Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo ! " It sounded something like 
the howling of a dog, but as they listened it grew 
louder and louder until it sounded like the roaring 
of a lion. 

The knights seized their swords and rushed down 
to see what was the matter, and there, in the middle 
of the hall, stood Florimond, his cheeks puffed up 
and his eyes swollen — and right out of his open 
mouth came that terrible noise, " Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo !' ' 

His mama and papa were begging him to be 
quiet. 



Honesty 135 

The cook had run up with a pie, and the nurse with 
a toy, but Florimond only opened his mouth and 
screamed the louder, because the rain was coming 
down when he wanted to play out of doors ! 

Then the knights saw that they were not wanted, 
and they hurried upstairs to prepare for their journey. 
* * * The knights did not care to stay with a 
child who was not good. 

' ' Let each take his own way, ' ' said Tristram the 
True, "and to-morrow we will meet under this same 
tree and tell what we have seen, for the time draws 
near when we must return to the king. " 

Then they bade each other farewell, and each rode 
away, except Sir Tristram, who lingered long under 
the oak-tree ; for he was the leader, and had many 
things to think about. 

Just as the sun was red in the west, he saw a little 
boy coming towards him, with a bundle of sticks on 
his back. 

"Greeting to you, little boy," said he. 

" Greeting to you, fair sir," said the boy, looking 
up with eager eyes at the knight on his splendid 
horse, that stood so still when the knight bade it. 

" What is your name ? " asked the knight. 

" My name is little Gauvain," replied the child. 

" And can you prove a trusty guide, little Gauvain, 
and lead me to a pleasant place where I may rest 
to-night ? " asked the knight. 

"Ay, that I can," Gauvain answered gladly, his 
whole face lighting up with pleasure ; but he added 
quickly, "lean, if you will wait until I carry my 
sticks to Grannie Slowsteps, and bring her water from 



136 A Beginners' Course 

the spring ; for I promised to be there before the 
setting of the sun." 

Now little Gauvain wanted to help the good knight 
so much that he was sorry to say this ; but Sir Tris- 
tram told him to run, and promised to wait patiently 
until his return ; and before many moments Gauvain 
was back, bounding like a fawn through the wood, to 
lead the way to his own home. 

When they came there the little dog ran out to 
meet them, and the cat rubbed up against Gauvain, 
and the mother called from the kitchen : 

1 ' Is that my sunbeam coming home to roost ? ' ' 
which made Gauvain and the knight both laugh. 

Then the mother came out in haste to welcome the 
stranger ; and she treated him with honor, giving him 
the best place at the table and the hottest cakes. 

She and little Gauvain lived all alone, for the 
father had gone to the wars when Gauvain was a 
baby, and had died fighting for the king. 

She had cows, horses, pigs, hens, chickens, and a 
dog and a cat, and one treasure greater than a king- 
dom, for she had a good child in her house. 

Sir Tristram found this out very soon, for little 
Gauvain ran when he was called, remembered the 
cat and dog when he had eaten his own supper, and 
went to bed when he was told, without fretting, 
although the knight was telling of lions and bears 
and battles, and everything that little boys like to 
hear about. 

Sir Tristram was so glad of this that he could 
scarcely wait for the time to come when he should 
meet his comrades under the oak-tree. 



Honesty 137 

"I have found a child whom you must see," he 
said, as soon as they came together. 

" And so have I," cried Gerald the Glad. 

" And I," exclaimed Kenneth the Kind. 

"And I," said Brian the Brave. 

" And I," said Percival the Pure ; and they looked 
at each other in astonishment. 

"I do not know the child's name," continued 
Gerald the Glad ; " but as I was riding in the forest 
I heard some one singing the merriest song. And 
when I looked through the trees I saw a little boy 
bending under a heavy burden. I hastened to help 
him, but when I reached the spot he was gone. I 
should like to hear him sing again." 

" I rode by the highway," said Sir Brian the 
Brave, h and I came suddenly upon a crowd of great 
rough fellows who were trying to torment a small 
black dog; and just as I saw them, a little boy ran 
up, as brave as a knight, and took the dog in his 
arms, and covered it with his coat. The rest ran 
away when I rode up ; but the child stayed, and told 
me his name — Gauvain." 

"Why!" exclaimed Kenneth the Kind, "he is 
the boy who brings wood and water for Grannie 
Slowsteps. I tarried all night at her cottage and she 
told me of his kindness." 

" I saw a lad at the spring near by," said Percival 
the Pure. " He hurried to fill his bucket, and some 
rude clown muddied the water as the child reached 
down ; but he spoke no angry words and waited 
patiently till the water was clear again. I should 
like to find his home and see him there." 



138 A Beginners' Course 

Now, Sir Tristram had waited to hear them all ; 
but when Sir Percival had finished, he arose and 
cried : 

" Come, and I will carry you to the child ! " And 
when the knights followed him, he led them to the 
home where little Gauvain was working with his 
mother, as happy as a lark and as gentle as a dove. 

It was noonday, and the sun was shining brightly 
on the shields of the knights, and their plumes were 
waving in the breeze ; and when they reached the 
gate Sir Tristram blew a loud blast on a silver 
trumpet. 

Then all the hens began to cackle, and the dog 
began to bark, and the horse began to neigh, and 
the pigs began to grunt, for they knew that it was a 
great day. And little Gauvain and his mother ran 
out to see what the matter was. 

When the knights saw Gauvain they looked at 
each other, and every one cried out: "He is the 
child ! " And Tristram the True said to the mother : 

" Greeting to you ! The king, our wise ruler, has 
sent us here to see your good child ; for a good child 
is more precious than a kingdom. And the king 
offers him his love and favor if you will let him ride 
with us to live at the king's court and learn to be a 
knight. ' ' 

Little Gauvain and his mother were greatly aston- 
ished that such a thing had happened ; for it seemed 
very wonderful and beautiful that the king should 
send messengers to little Gauvain. After the knights 
had repeated it, though, they understood ; and little 
Gauvain ran to his mother and put his arms around 



Honesty 1 39 

her ; for he knew that if he went with the knights he 
must leave her, and the mother knew that if she let 
him go she must live without him. 

The rooster up on the fence crowed a very loud 
" Cock-a-doodle-doo !" to let everybody know he 
belonged to Gauvain, and a little chick that had lost 
its mother cried "Peep! peep!" And when the 
mother heard this she answered the knights, and said : 

"I cannot spare my good child from my home. 
The king's love is precious, but I love my child more 
than the whole world, and he is dearer to me than a 
thousand kingdoms." 

Little Gauvain was so glad when he heard her 
answer that he looked again at the knights with a 
smiling face, and waved his hand to them as they 
rode away. All day and all night they rode, and it 
was the peep of day when they came to the king's 
highway. Then they rode slowly, for they w r ere sad 
because of their news ; but the king rejoiced when 
he heard it, for he said : " Such a child, with such a 
mother, will grow into a knight at home." 

The king's words were true, for when the king 
was an old, old man, Gauvain rode to his court and 
was knighted. 

Gauvain had a beautiful name of his own then, for 
he was called "Gauvain the Good," and he was 
brave, happy, kind, pure and true. And he was 
beloved by all the people in the world, but most of 
all by his mother. 

3. Transition. 

Why did the knights set out to search over the 



140 A Beginners' Course 

land ? Why did they not choose Florimond ? How 
did they decide to search after that ? What did Sir 
Tristram the True find ? Where did Gauvain take 
him ? Why did he like Gauvain ? When he told 
the other knights that he had found a good child, 
what did they say ? When they told Gauvain' s 
mother that the king had sent them for Gauvain, 
what did she say ? What happened when Gauvain 
became a man ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. If there is time let the children express 
their ideas of the story by drawing ; or 

Physical. Allow the children to make believe they 
are knights on horseback riding in search of a good 
child. 

Picture 

Knights on Horseback. 



TRUTHFULNESS 

Golden Text for Lessons 40 to 42 : My mouth shall 
speak truth (Prov. 8:7). 



Lesson 40 
Samuel Telling the Truth (1 Sam. 3 : 1=21). 

Result Sought : 

Truthfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Prepare for the lesson story by a review of Lesson 
16, "Samuel Helping in the House of God." 

Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night ? 
What wakened you ? How did you feel ? What 
did you do ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

One night after the red sun had gone down over 
the hills and the old man Eli had already gone to his 
bed, little Samuel closed the heavy doors of the 
great Tabernacle where the ark was kept behind the 
thick curtain of purple and red and gold. The ark 
was a great golden box with two cherubim stretching 
their wings wide above it as though to take care of 
the precious things that were inside. Samuel always 

141 



142 A Beginners' Course 

felt as though they took care of him, too. So he went 
happily away to his bed in the tent near by and soon 
went fast asleep. 

But in the middle of the still night, he was wakened 
by a voice calling him, " Samuel, Samuel." As 
he started up and rubbed his eyes he thought : 
"Ah, my master Eli has need of me," and as 
he ran across the dark room he answered: "Here 
am I." But Eli said to him: " I did not call 
thee, my son. Go and lie down again." Samuel 
went back, but he did not go to sleep. Suddenly the 
voice came again: "Samuel, Samuel," and again 
Samuel hurried to Eli, saying: "Here am I, for 
thou didst call me." But Eli said : "No, I called 
not, my son." A second time little Samuel went 
back to his bed, and almost as he lay down, once 
more the call came : " Samuel, Samuel " "It must 
be my master Eli," he thought, and once more he 
ran across the dark tent to Eli's side. " My master, 
thou didst call me," he said. Then Eli knew that 
it must be the heavenly Father's voice, and he told 
Samuel to answer if the call came again. 

Samuel went back and waited. Presently, soft 
and clear, came the call : " Samuel, Samuel.'* And 
Samuel answered with bowed head : " Speak, Lord, 
for thy servant heareth." Then the Father in 
heaven told Samuel something that was going to 
happen to the old man Eli. 

When Samuel lay down he could not sleep for 
thinking of it, for he knew that it would make the 
old man very sad. He wondered and thought until 
the morning light began to peep under the tent. Then 



Trie thfie In ess 143 

he rose and opened wide the great doors of the Taber- 
nacle. Eli heard him and called, "Samuel, my son." 
When Samuel reached his bed he said: "Tell me 
what is the thing the heavenly Father has said to 
thee ? ' ' Samuel could not bear to tell him, for he knew 
it would make him unhappy, and, bending his head, 
he said nothing. Eli reached forth his trembling hand 
and laid it on Samuel's head. " I pray thee, hide it 
not from me," he said. "Tell me all, every whit, 
of that which the Lord hath said unto thee." Then 
Samuel could hesitate ho longer. He knew that he 
must tell the truth even though it made the old man 
sorry. So he told him all about it. 

3. Transition. 

What did Samuel hear one night after he had lain 
down to sleep ? What did he do ? What did Eli 
say ? What happened when he went back to bed ? 
What did Eli at last tell Samuel to do ? About whom 
did the Father in heaven speak to Samuel ? What 
did Eli ask Samuel in the morning ? Why did not 
Samuel want to answer ? What did he do about it ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. • 

Give the children a number of blocks and let them 
build under your direction the light wooden sides of the 
Tabernacle. The building should be done well toward 
the back of the tables so that a vacant place may be 
left immediately in front of each child. Next give 
each child a square piece of paper large enough to 
make a tent covering for this foundation. Allow the 
children to fold these in half and place them upon 



144 <A Beginners' Course 

the blocks so that the tent-like roof will be formed, 
and the Tabernacle completed. 

Picture 

Samuel, by Reynolds. 

Memory Gem 

" The little black crickets are singing a song, 
With voices low and clear, 
They say : ' You must always do your best, 
Do your best, little children dear.' " 



Lesson 41 
Daniel Telling the Truth (Dan. 5 : 13=30). 

Golden Text : My mouth shall speak truth ( Prov. 
8: 7). 

Result Sought: 

Truthfulness. 

Lesson Taught: 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin by a review talk with the children on pre- 
vious stories of Daniel and his goodness and bravery. 

2. Lesson Story. 

In the time of this same brave Prince Daniel there 
lived a king who was wild and wicked. His long, 



Truthfulness 1 4 5 

odd name was Belshazzar. I wonder if you can 
pronounce it ? 

One time this king made a great feast and invited 
to it a thousand of his lords. For days before the 
time came the great palace was being prepared. 
Dark-skinned slaves ran here and there with gor- 
geous hangings and silver vessels. They brought 
the golden bowls which the king's father had robbed 
from the great church in Jerusalem, to hold the red 
wine that was kept in the cool cellars below. 

When all was ready the king had his slaves dress 
him in his richest purple robe ; he put chains about 
his neck and a golden crown with sparkling jewels 
upon his dark hair. When the lords arrived they, 
too, were dressed in gorgeous clothes : scarlet and 
blue and yellow, with many jewels. They came and 
bowed before the king, and kissed his hand. Then 
all sat down to the feast. The great tables were piled 
with all sorts of dainties ; and the golden bowls filled 
with red wine were passed around. Musicians played 
and songs were sung to false gods made out of gold 
and silver and iron and stone. 

Suddenly the king laid down his dish of wine and 
leaning forward, stared at the wall in front of him. 
The lords around him turned, wondering what it was 
he looked at. And there, upon the white wall above 
the big golden candlestick, they saw some words 
written in large black letters. They tried to read 
them, but could not. Even the king could not read 
them. He arose from his seat and cried in a loud 
voice to the slaves: *' Bring in the wise men that they 
may read and tell me the meaning of this writing on 



146 A Beginners Course 

the wall." When the wise men came he told them: 
"Whoever shall read this writing, shall be clothed in 
a gorgeous robe of scarlet and shall have a chain of 
gold to put about his neck." So the wise men tried 
to read it, but they were not able ; not one of them 
could tell what the words meant. 

Then the king was troubled. While he was 
wondering what to do, the queen, who had heard of 
the wonderful writing on the wall, came into the 
room. She was very beautiful in her white and 
purple robe and little shining crown. When she 
found that the wise men had not been able to read 
the writing and that the king was troubled, she stood 
before him and said : " O king, live forever ! Be 
not troubled, for there is a man in thy kingdom who 
is wiser than any one else. His name is Daniel. 
He will read this writing for thee." 

The king sent for Daniel immediately. When he 
came in his white linen robe and bent his knee before 
the king, Belshazzar said to him : "Prince Daniel, if 
thou canst read this writing on the wall, I will give 
thee a robe of scarlet and a golden chain to put about 
thy neck." Daniel raised his head and looked at 
the big black letters : "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin" 
was what he read. He knew at once what it meant, 
but he knew, too, that the king would not like to hear 
it, for it told a sad story. It said that Belshazzar, the 
wild king, was to be punished ; that he could not any 
longer be king. Daniel did not want to tell this to 
the king. He did not want to make him angry. 
But he was brave, and so he said : " O king, keep 
thy gifts or give them to some one else ; I do not 



Truthfulness 1 47 

want them, but I will tell thee the truth." So he 
read the black words to the king and told him that 
he would have to be punished because he had been 
so wild and wicked. This must have made Belshaz- 
zar very angry and frightened, but he did not blame 
Daniel for telling him the truth and he was good 
enough to keep his word, for he commanded the 
slaves to clothe Daniel in a gorgeous scarlet robe and 
to put a gold chain about his neck. 

3. Transition. 

In the midst of the great feast, what did the king 
Belshazzar see ? Why did he have the wise men 
come in ? What did the wise men do about it ? 
Who did the king then send for ? How did Daniel 
feel when he saw what was written ? What did he do 
about it ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. , 

Let the children express their ideas of this lesson 
by free drawing. 

Picture 
The Feast of Belshazzar. 



Lesson 42 

Truthful at All Times (John 1:43-51; Eph. 
4: 25 ; Psa. 15 : 1-2). 

Golden Text: My mouth shall speak truth (Prov. 

8:7). 

Result Sought : 

Beautiful living. 



148 A Beginners' Course 

Suggestion to Teachers : 

In the story material for to-day we find nothing 
which will touch the life of a little child. As in the 
lessons on honesty, we hesitate to portray anything 
that touches upon lying or deceit, so we have chosen 
a simple story of a pure, bright life. 

Lesson Taught: 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 
Listen to the story I have to tell you. 

2. Lesson Story. 

There once lived a little maiden to whom God 
had given a wonderful light, which made her whole 
life bright. 

When she was a wee baby it shone on her face in 
a beautiful smile, and her mother cried : 

' ' See ! the angels have been kissing her ! ' ' And 
when she grew older it lighted up her eyes like sun- 
shine and gleamed on her forehead like a star. 

All lovely things that loved light, loved her. The 
soft-cooing pigeons came at her call. The roses 
climbed up to her windows to peep at her, and the 
birds of the air, and the butterflies, that looked like 
enchanted sunbeams, would circle about her head. 

Her father was king of a country, and though she 
was not so tall as the tall white lily in the garden, 
or the weeds that grew outside, she had servants to 
wait on her and grant her every wish as if she were 
a queen. 

She was dearer to her father and mother than all 
else they possessed, and there was no happier king 
or queen or little maiden in any kingdom of the world, 



Tru thfu hi < 'ss 1 49 

till one sad day, when the king's enemies came upon 
them like a whirlwind and changed their joy to 
sorrow. 

Their palace was seized, the servants were scattered, 
and the king and queen were carried away to a dark 
prison-house, where they sat and wept for their little 
daughter, for they knew not where she was. 

No one knew but the old nurse, who had nursed 
the king himself. She had carried the child away, 
unnoticed amid the noise and strife, and set her in 
safety outside the palace walls. 

"Fly, precious one!" she cried, as she left her 
there. " Fly ! for the enemy is upon us ! " and the 
little maiden started out in the world alone. 

She knew not where to go ; so she wandered away 
through the fields and waste places, where nobody 
lived and only the grasshoppers seemed glad. But 
she was not afraid, — no ! not even when she came 
to a great forest, at evening ; for she carried her 
light with her. 

' Tis true that once she thought she saw a threaten- 
ing giant waiting by the dusky path ; but, when her 
light shone on it, it was only a pine-tree, stretching 
out its friendly arms ; and she laughed so merrily 
that all the woods laughed too. 

"Who are you ? Who are you ? " asked an owl, 
blinking its eyes at the brightness of her face ; and a 
little rabbit, startled by the sound, sprang from its 
hiding-place in the bushes, and fell trembling at her 
feet. 

"Alas!" it panted as she bent in pity to offer 
help. " Alas ! the hunters with their dogs and guns 



150 A Beginners' Course 

pursue me ! But you flee, too ! How can you help 
me ? " But the child took the tiny creature in her 
arms and held it close ; and when the do^s rushed 
through the tanglewood, they saw the light that 
lighted up her eyes like sunshine and gleamed on 
her forehead like a star, and came no further. 

Then deeper into the great forest she went, bearing 
the rabbit still ; and the wild beasts heard her foot- 
steps, and waited for her coming. 

" Hush ! " said the fox, " she is mine ; for I will 
lead her from the path into the tanglewood ! " 

"Nay, she is mine!" howled the wolf, "for I 
will follow on her footsteps ! " * * * 

So they quarreled among themselves, for they 
were beasts and knew no better ; and as they snarled 
and growled and howled, the maiden walked in 
among them ; and when the light which made her 
lovely fell upon them, they ran and hid themselves 
in the depths of the forest, and the child passed on 
in safety. 

The rabbit still slept peacefully on her breast. • At 
last she, too, grew weary, and lay down to sleep on 
the leaves and moss; and the birds of the forest 
watched her and sang to her, and nothing harmed 
her all the night. 

In the morning a party of horsemen rode through 
the forest, looking behind each bush and tree as if 
they sought something very precious. 

The forest glowed with splendor then, for the sun 
had come in all its glory to scatter darkness and 
wake up the world. The darkest dells and caves 
and lonely paths lost their horror in the morning 



Truthfulness I 5 1 

light, and there were violets blooming in the shadows 
of the pines. 

The leaves glistened, the flowers lifted their heads, 
and everything was glad but the horsemen, whose 
faces were full of gloom because their hearts were sad. 

They did not speak or smile as they rode on their 
search ; and their leader was the saddest of them all, 
though he wore a golden crown that sparkled with 
many jewels. 

They followed each winding path through the 
forest, till at last they reached the spot where the 
little maiden lay. 

The rabbit waked up at the sound of their com- 
ing, but the child slept till a loud cry of gladness 
awakened her and she found herself in her father's 
arms. 

In the night-time the king's brave soldiers had 
driven his enemies from his land and opened the 
doors of the prison-house in which he and the queen 
lay, and the king had ridden with them in haste to 
find his darling child, who was worth his crown and 
his kingdom. 

The sight of her face was the sunshine to lighten 
their hearts, and they sent the glad news far and 
near, with blast of trumpet and shouts of joy. 

But in all their great happiness the child did not 
forget the rabbit, and she said to it : " Come with me 
and I will take care of you, for my father the king is 
here." But the rabbit thanked her and wanted to 
go home. 

" My babies are waiting," it said, "and I have 
my work to do in the world. I pray you let me go." 



.152 A Beginners' Course 

So the child kissed it and bade it go ; and she, too, 
went to her own dear home. There she grew love- 
lier every day, for the light grew with her ! . * * * 
And she lived happily all the days of her life. 

(Maud Lindsay, in Mother Stories.) 

3. Transition. 

What was it that made the cooing pigeons and the 
roses and the butterflies love the little girl so well ? 
When she went into the forest what did the light do 
for her ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children express their ideas of the story by 
free drawing. 



SELF=CONTROL 

Golden Text for Lessons 43 and 44 : Be patient 

toward all (1 Thess. 5 : 14). 



Lesson 43 
David's Self=Control (1 Sam. 26: 1-25). 

Result Sought : 

Self-control. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin by a review of the lesson on Jonathan the 
peacemaker. 

2. Lesson Story. 

When the quarrel between King Saul and David 
the shepherd boy was made up, they were all happy 
for a while. But when the king found how much all 
the people loved the young man with the bright eyes, 
who was so brave and strong in battle, he was jeal- 
ous of him. He was ill, too, and although David 
played his softest and sweetest melodies upon his 
harp, and did all he could to amuse him, he began 
to dislike him more than ever. 

At last David could stay near the king no longer. 
So, for fear that the king would kill him, he ran 
away one night and hid himself in the woods and 
caves and hills. Then the king was angry and 
called his soldiers and followed after David. They 

J 53 



154 A Beginners' Course 

searched for him everywhere. One time they came 
to sleep in the very same rocky cave in which David 
was hiding, only they did not find it out until David 
had stolen out and stood high up on the rocks where 
the soldiers could not catch him. At last David, 
with some of his strong brave friends, went to hide 
in a lonely place near the sea where the wild goats 
lived. Not far away was a great rocky hill. One day 
a man said that he saw some soldiers on the hill. 
David thought they might belong to King Saul, so 
he sent some young men to creep quietly up the hill 
and find out if the unkind king were really there. 
When they came back they said : "Yes, King Saul 
is there with three thousand soldiers." Hearing this 
David arose and took his spear. Starting forward he 
cried : " Come, we will go and see for ourselves. " 

In the moonlight they climbed the rocky hill and 
looked down the other side. Sure enough, King Saul 
and his men were encamped at the foot. The soldiers 
sleeping upon their cloaks by the carts made a great 
ring around the tent of the king. David spoke in a 
low voice to two men who stood by him : " Who will 
go down with me to the camp there ? " he asked. One 
of them named Abishai said : "I will go down with 
thee." So they started down over the wild rocks 
and gorges. As they came near the camp they 
stopped to listen. Not a sound could they hear. All 
were fast asleep. " I am going to the tent of the 
king," whispered David. "And I will follow," 
answered Abishai. They took the sandals from their 
feet and crept inside the great ring. No one woke as 
they passed. Soon they came to the tent of the king. 



Self- Control I 5 5 

Outside of the tent lay Abner, the captain of all 
the soldiers. Very quietly they raised the goat skin 
door of the tent and went in. There lay the tall 
king in his thick cloak. His spear was stuck into the 
ground by his head and a jar of water was at his 
head. As they looked into the king's dark, stern face 
Abishai saidto David: " See ! thine enemy is before 
thee. Let me kill him now. " But although David 
knew that Saul wished to kill him, and would be 
likely to start again to search for him when the 
morning came, yet he pitied the unhappy king, and 
laying his hand on Abishai' s spear, whispered : 
" No, we must not kill him. Take the spear that is 
at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." 
So they took the spear and the water jar, but left 
the king safe. Back they crept with noiseless feet, 
past all the soldiers who were as fast asleep as ever. 
They did not stop until they had climbed across the 
gorges and up the rocky hill once more. Then David 
stood up tall and straight in the moonlight, and 
shouted in aloud voice to the captain of the soldiers : 
"Abner, son of Ner, awake ! " The voice rang so 
loud among the rocks that not only Abner, but also 
King Saul, awoke. David held up the shining spear 
and the water jar, and told how he had been below 
in the camp. When King Saul saw the spear and 
water jar in David's hand he knew that David had 
spared his life. And he was ashamed of himself, 
and sorry that he had followed after David to kill him. 

*' Is this thy voice, my son David?" he called. 
And David answered: "It is my voice, my lord. 
O king, why hast thou followed after me ? What 



156 A Beginners' Course 

have I done that thou shouldst want to kill me ? ' ' 
Then Saul said : " I was wrong, my son. I am sorry. 
I will not do thee harm, for thou hast spared my 
life." 

When one of Saul's soldiers had come up to fetch 
the king's spear and the water jar, David turned 
back with his friends, and King Saul, and all his 
soldiers went back home. 

3. Transition. 

Why did David have to go and hide ? Where did 
he go ? What did King Saul do ? What did David 
do when he found that the king was over the hill ? 
Who went down with him to the camp ? What did 
they find down there ? What did Abishai want 
David to do ? What did David answer him ? When 
Saul heard how David had spared his life what did 
he say ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Allow the children to express themselves by freely 

drawing the story. 

Picture 

David Sparing Saul's Life. 

Blackboard 




Self- Control 157 

Memory Gem 

"A little bit of patience often makes the sunshine come, 
And a little bit of love makes a very happy home." 

Lesson 44 

Jesus Bearing Wrong (Luke 9:51=56). 

Golden Text: Be patient toward all (1 Thess. 5 : 14). 

Result Sought : 

Self-control. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever go for a very long walk ? Tell me 
about it. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time Jesus set out upon a long 
journey. He was going to the city with the great 
church. But on the way he meant to visit some 
other cities. He thought that in them he might find 
some poor sick people who needed help. Some 
friends of his went with him, and as they all journeyed 
along over the hills, past the cities and villages, many 
people who had heard of Jesus and wanted to see him 
and hear him tell beautiful stories, joined them, until 
there, was a great crowd of people. 

After they had traveled a long way, they came 
towards a very pleasant little village surrounded by 
palm-trees and beautiful gardens where doves cooed 
and bulbuls sang. It was called the Fountain of 
Gardens. Jesus sent ahead two of his friends, James 
and John, to tell the people who lived there that he 



158 A Beginners' Course 

and his friends were coming to stay with them a little 
while. But the people in that village could not have 
known how good and kind Jesus was. They only 
knew they did not like the people who lived in the 
country from which Jesus and his friends came. So 
they told the disciples they did not want them to 
stay there. "But," said John, "Jesus himself is 
with us. He wants to do good. He will cure your 
sick people, and open the eyes of those among you 
who are blind." But the people would not listen. 

Then James and John were very angry and turn- 
ing, hurried back to meet Jesus and the others on the 
road. They told their story and cried to Jesus : 
" Lord, command us to punish them. Let us call down 
lightning to burn up the Fountain of Gardens ! " 

Jesus looked sadly at James and John. He was 
sorry that his friends should want to be unkind to 
the village people, even though they had been un- 
kind to them. He said: "Ye know' not what ye 
say. I have not come to harm men, but to help 
them. Let us go further on." So they left the 
pretty little village with its palm-trees and gardens 
and passed on to another village. 

3. Transition. 

Where did Jesus set out to go ? What did he in- 
tend to do on the way ? When they came near the 
Fountain of Gardens what did he do ? What did 
the people who lived there say to James and John ? 
How did James and John feel when they heard that ? 
What did they ask Jesus to let them do ? What did 
Jesus say ? 



Self- Con trol 159 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Sand-tray. Have the children help you mold 
the road through the country and place the village 
with its palm-trees and gardens, using little green 
twigs, leaves, or powdered green chalk to make it 
appear pleasant. Use the little sticks to represent 
the different companies of people and move them 
about according to the incidents of the story. 

Picture 

Head of Christ, by Hofmann. 



PRAYER 

Golden Text for Lessons 45 to 47 : Lord, teach us 
to pray (Luke 11 : 1). 



Lesson 45 
Praying for Help (Neh. 1 : 1-11). 

Result Sought : 

Prayerfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1 . Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Did you ever see a very big house ? Where was 
the biggest house you ever saw ? Who lived in it ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Once upon a time in a beautiful city, with lilies 
growing all around it, and a wide river running 
through it, there was a high stone palace. In this 
palace lived a great king with a long name — Arta- 
xerxes, and with him lived a man named Nehemiah. 
Nehemiah's home was far away in Jerusalem, the 
city with the great church and the high walls. But 
although he was a stranger, Artaxerxes, the king, 
loved him, for he was quick and strong and brave 
and had true brown eyes. So he had made him his 
cupbearer. It was Nehemiah's duty to wait upon the 
king, clad in a robe of purple and gold. To him it 
was given to squeeze the red juice from the grapes 
into a golden cup and carry it to the kin< 
shining gold tray. 
160 



Prayer 1 6 1 

Now, although Nehemiah was happy in the great 
palace, he often thought of his dear home and the 
friends who lived there, and wished that some one 
would come and tell him about them. One winter 
day his wish was granted, for a brother of his and 
some other men from the dear home came to the 
palace. But they had sad news. They said : " Alas ! 
there are enemies around the city ; they have broken 
down the high stone walls and have burnt the great 
strong gates with fire ! The people are poor and in 
great trouble." Then Nehemiah was sorrowful. He 
covered his face with his hands and wept. When his 
friends were gone he laid aside his jewels and his 
purple robe, and put on sad colored garments. He 
mourned and wept, not only for one but for many 
days, and he wondered how he might help his 
friends. And as he thought about it, he knew that 
the best way would be to ask the Father in heaven 
to help him. So he fell upon his knees and prayed to 
him: " Dear Father in heaven, help thy children." 
Soon after that Nehemiah put on his purple robe and 
went in to wait upon the king. The queen was with 
the king. She looked sweet and gracious and 
smiled as Nehemiah knelt to hand the cup of wine. 
But Nehemiah only bowed low and looked sorrowful. 
Then the king asked him : ' ' Why art thou sad ? 
What troubleth thee ? ' ' Nehemiah answered : " O 
king, I am sad because the great city at my home is 
spoiled ; the walls are burned down with fire and my 
friends are in trouble." Then the Father in heaven 
put it into the kind heart of King Artaxerxes to help 
Nehemiah. The king said: "Tell me how I can 



1 62 A Beginners' Course 

help thee." So Nehemiah said: "If it please 
thee, O king, let me go home and help my friends 
to build again the walls and the gates, and drive away 
the enemies." Artaxerxes said he might go, and 
then Nehemiah knew that the Father in heaven had 
heard his prayer. 

3. Transition. 

Where did Nehemiah live ? What did he do in 
the king's palace? What made him sad one day ? 
Who did he ask to help him ? How did the Father 
in heaven help him ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Blocks. Let us build the strong city walls as 
Nehemiah and his friends did. 

Give the children blocks and let them build very 
simply the walls and some of the gates of the city. 
They should do this all together at your dictation. 
When the walls are finished, they might place here 
and there inside the walls single blocks to represent 
buildings, and a simple structure of three or four 
blocks to represent the great church. 

Picture 

Nehemiah Praying. 

Memory Gem 

" Lord, when we have not any light 
And mothers are asleep, 
Then through the stillness of the night 
Thy little children keep." 






Prayer 163 

Lesson 46 

Praying for Others (1 Sam. 12 : 19-24 ; Matt. 
5 : 44 ; Jas. 5 : 13 = 16). 

Golden Text: Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11 : 1). 

Result Sought : 

Prayerfulness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Begin the lesson to-day by a brief review of Lessons 
16 and 40, namely : Samuel Helping in the House 
of God, and Samuel Telling the Truth. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day tells us more about Samuel who 
helped Eli in the Tabernacle. But instead of being 
a little boy with dark curling hair, Samuel was now 
an old man. His hair was white, and his long gray 
beard reached almost to his girdle. Samuel had 
grown to be a very wise old man, so wise that whenever 
any of the people were in trouble they came to him, 
and he helped them. They all called him a prophet. 

One time he called all the people to come from 
their homes to a big meeting out of doors under the 
trees. From all parts they came, some on camels, 
some on donkeys, and some on foot. Nearly all of 
them brought their tents of black goats' hair, and 
when they came near the meeting-place they stopped 
and put them up. By and by there were more tents 
than you could count. Then all the people gathered 
together beside a big circle of stones and Samuel, in 
his brown mantle, came out upon the side of the hill, 



164 A Beginners Course 

and spoke to them in a deep, ringing voice. While 
he was speaking the sky began to grow so dark that 
they could scarcely see. Then came a great storm, 
the lightning flashed, the thunder pealed, and the 
rain came down so hard and fast that the people 
were frightened and ran to their tents. But the 
thunder roared and the rain poured down more and 
more. The people were more frightened than ever. 
They cried to Samuel : "Ask the Father in heaven 
to take care of us." So Samuel drew his mantle 
tightly around him and kneeling, prayed to the Father 
in heaven. And the dear loving God answered the 
prayer and took care of them all in the storm and 
the rain. 

3. Transition. 

Why did Samuel call all the people together one 
day ? What happened while Samuel was speaking 
to them ? What did the people do ? What did 
Samuel do for them ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Drawing. Let the children express their ideas of 
the story by free drawing. 

Picture 

Samuel as an Old Man. 



Lesson 47 

When and Where to Pray (Matt. 6:6; Dan. 6 : 
10 ; Acts 3:1; Gen. 24 : 10=14 ; Neh. 2:4; 
Jas. 5 : 13 ; Hatt. 8 : 23046). 



Prayer 165 

Golden Text: Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11: 1). 

Result Sought : 

Prayerfulness. 

Suggestions to Teachers : 

We feel that the best way to teach children the 
lesson of the day is through the means of a story. 
The following simple story is on the plane of the 
child's experience and will be more effective than 
many more formal lessons on "When and Where to 
Pray." 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Prepare for the story of to-day by a very brief 
review of the last two lessons. 

2. Lesson Story. 

One evening just as the sun was saying a last 
good-night to the fleecy clouds, a little white rabbit 
crept to the mouth of his burrow and looked out. He 
shivered a little bit and said to himself : " Dear me, 
it is getting dark, and there is no sign of mother yet. 
I wonder why she doesn't come home. It is so lonely 
down there in the dark." He cocked his ears for- 
ward to listen, and opened his pink eyes wide, but 
he could not hear or see anything of his mother. 
Just then he heard a sweet voice singing : " Chick-a- 
dee-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee-dee. ' ' He peeped around 
the tree and saw sitting in the old birch-tree quite 
near him a dear little chick-a-dee. 

"Good evening, little chick-a-dee," he called. 
" Isn't it pretty near your bedtime ? " The chick-a- 



1 66 A Beginners Course 

dee turned his head, and when he spied the white 
rabbit in the bushes below, he hopped on to a lower 
branch and chirped : " Why, good evening, Bunny 
Rabbit. Yes, it is nearly my bedtime. I was just 
singing a good-night song to the dear father, God. 
But why are you out so late, Bunny Rabbit?" " I 
came up to look for my mother. She has been away 
ever since dinner-time. It is fearfully dark down in 
the burrow, and I don't like to stay there all alone. 
Do you think she will be home soon, chick-a-dee ?" 

"Oh, you mustn't be afraid, Bunny. Why, don't 
you know that the dear father, God, will take care of 
you ? Once when I was a little wee bird, much too 
small to fly, my mother had to stay away a whole 
night. My brother and I were left quite alone, but 
we were not afraid. We just asked the dear God to. 
take care of us, and then cuddled down together in 
our snug nest and slept until mother came home. 
Just you creep down into your warm burrow and speak 
to the dear God ; he will take care of you until your 
mother comes back. Now, I must say good-night, but 
I will come and see you in the morning." And with 
a last " chick-a-dee-dee," he flew away to his cosy 
nest. 

The little white rabbit took his advice and crept 
back into the burrow. It was nice and warm in the 
little fur-lined room where he slept, but it seemed so 
strange to be there in the dark without his mother 
that his little heart beat fast. "Dear father, God," 
he said, ' ' please take care of my mother, and bring 
her back home, and take care of me, too." Then he 
curled up in one corner and shut his pink eyes. 



Prayer 167 

Soon he was fast asleep. Early in the morning 
before ever it was light his mother's voice awoke him. 
"Were you lonesome, little Bunny?" she asked. 
"Yes, mother, at first I was, but I spoke to the 
father, God, and he took care of me. Listen, mother, 
I hear the chick-a-dee singing." "Yes," said his 
mother, "the sun must be coming up, for as soon 
as it peeps above the hills the chick-a-dee always 
sings to thank the Father in heaven for taking care 
of him all the night. Let us go out and say good 
morning to him." 

3. Transition. 

Why did the little white rabbit come out of his 
burrow when the sun was going down ? Who did 
he speak to ? What did the chick-a-dee tell him ? 
What did he do about it ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children express their ideas of this story by 
free drawing. 

Picture 
In Gethsemane, by Hofmann. 



FORGIVENESS 

Golden Text for Lessons 48 and 40 : Forgiving each 
other (Eph. 4:32). 



Lesson 48 
Stephen Forgiving His Enemies (Acts 7 : 54-60). 

Result Sought : 

A spirit of patient forgiveness. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Who is the biggest and strongest man you know ? 
What does he look like ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

In the olden days after Jesus had said good-by to 
his friends upon earth and gone to prepare a beautiful 
home in heaven, there lived a young man named 
Stephen. Everybody loved Stephen. He was 
straight and tall with arms so strong that they seemed 
made to help those who were lame, or carry those 
who were too ill to walk. He had beautiful brown 
hair that curled thickly over his head, and his deep 
blue eyes were so kind that they seemed to say to 
those who were in trouble : " I love you. Can I help 
you ? " Many people who were sad came to him to 
be comforted ; those who were sick came to him, too, 
for, like Peter and John, he could heal them. 

Sometimes he talked to the people in the churches 
168 



Forgiveness 1 69 

and told them how to do beautiful things and when 
he was speaking, people sat quietly and listened ; 
even the tiny boys and girls who could not under- 
stand what he said, loved to watch his kind face. 
Many of them knew him quite well, for he loved the 
little children and would often pat them on the head, 
or take them on his knee and tell them stories or, 
better still, give them a ride on his great strong 
shoulders. 

One day as he was talking, some men who did not 
believe the things he said, tried to quarrel with him. 
But Stephen would not quarrel. The men were 
angry then and went away, but soon they came back 
with some other men and took Stephen and brought 
him before the great men. Here these quarreling 
men told wrong stories about him. But Stephen, 
true and brave, was not afraid of them, or even 
angry, and as the white-haired men gazed at him, 
they whispered one to another : \ ' Kis face is like 
the face of an angel." When it came his turn to 
speak, he told them wise things, but these wise things 
made them all so angry that they ground their teeth 
and looked at him with flashing eyes. But he did 
not stop. Presently he looked deep into their angry 
eyes and told them that they were wicked men 
because they had tried to harm people like Peter and 
John who went about doing good. 

When they heard this, they started up full of anger 
and putting their fingers in their ears, they cried : 
" Stop him, stop him ! " And they ran upon him 
and dragged him from the great house, through the 
streets, and out of the city. There they stoned him. 



170 A Beginners Course 

But still Stephen was not angry with them. Though 
the stones they threw hurt him, and the looks of the 
men were fierce and cruel, he kneeled down, and lift- 
ing his beautiful face so that all could hear him, he 
called to the Father in heaven and asked him to 
forgive these wicked men. Then they all stopped 
throwing stones, for Stephen lay down upon the 
ground as though he were asleep. The Father in 
heaven had taken him to the beautiful home of which 
Jesus had told his friends 

3. Transition. 

What was the name of the kind, strong man who 
helped people ? What happened one day as he was 
talking in a church ? Where -did they take him ? 
What did he tell these men ? What did they do to 
him ? Was Stephen angry with them ? What did he 
ask the Father in heaven to do ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Give each child a piece of dark brown paper about 
four by six inches. Next give out small copies of the 
picture of Stephen. Hand around small brushes 
dipped in paste and allow the children to paste the 
back of the pictures and mount them upon the brown 
paper. 

Picture 

Stephen. 

Memory Gem 

" Help us to do the things we should, 
To be to others kind and good ; 
In all we do, in work or play, ' 
To grow more loving ev'ry day.' ' 



Forgiveness 171 

Lesson 49 

Jesus Forgiving Peter (John 18: 15-18, 25-27; 

21: 15 = 17). 
Golden Text : Forgiving each other (Eph. 4 : 32). 

Result Sought : 

A spirit of patient forgiveness. 

Suggestions to Teachers : 

The six-year-old child is so impressionable that 
the very greatest care must be taken in picturing to 
him anything of an evil nature. 

The unfortunate failings of Peter must be carefully 
portrayed. It will be better not to picture the lie of 
Peter in detail, even though this be followed by a 
warning against the danger of lying and the story of 
Jesus' forgiveness. We must remember that it is the 
picture, not the warning that remains in the child's 
mind. Therefore, in the story to-day we must aim 
to make the evil as abstract and the mercy and for- 
giveness of Jesus as concrete as possible. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

As we have had several lessons about Peter, we 
may prepare for the lesson story by a brief review of 
these. If in this review the incidents which show 
Peter's friendship for Jesus, and Jesus' love for Peter 
can be brought out, it will make the mind of the child 
more ready for the story. 

2. Lesson Story. 

Early one morning, when the sunbeams- were 
coming from the sky to make the world bright, some 



172 A Beginners Course 

of Peter's friends found him lying upon the grass 
under the trees in a garden. His face was covered 
up with his dark cloak and he was weeping. His 
friends could not think what made him so unhappy. 
One of them said gently: "What is thy sorrow, 
Peter ? ' ' But Peter did not want to tell them. When 
they saw that he wished to be alone they went away. 

Peter did not wish his friends to know what made 
him sorrowful, for he had done something wrong. 
He had said something to make Jesus, his best friend, 
unhappy. Now he was sorry ; it was no wonder that 
the hot tears came into his eyes. All that day and 
for many days afterwards Peter was unhappy and his 
eyes were sad. He could not forget the wrong he 
had done to his best friend. 

At last one night he and John and some other 
friends went out fishing. They fished until the 
morning light began to break, but they caught no 
fish in the nets. They were tired and discouraged 
and were thinking about going ashore, when they 
heard some one calling to them from the beach, tell- 
ing them to throw their net out from the other side 
of the ship. They did this and before long the net 
was full, so full that they could not lift it up. John 
looked back towards the beach and said to Peter : 
•'It was Jesus who called to us from the shore." 
Peter started at his words, and his eyes grew sadder 
than ever as he remembered how unhappy he had 
made Jesus. He thought: "I will go to him. I 
will show him how sorry I am and see if he has for- 
given* me." So he fastened his cloak about him 
and jumping into the water, swam ashore. As he 



Forgiveness 1 7 3 

drew near Jesus looked at him lovingly and smiled. 
Then Peter's heart was filled with joy, for he saw 
that Jesus was not angry with him. The others soon 
came up in the boat and they counted their fish and 
had breakfast. 

After breakfast Jesus spoke to Peter, calling him 
by his other name. " Simon," he said, " dost thou 
love me?" Peter answered with all his heart: 
" Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee," and he 
was happy for he knew that Jesus had quite forgiven 
him. 

3. Transition. 

Where did some friends find Peter one morning ? 
Why was he weeping? Why did he jump out of the 
boat and swim ashore? How did Jesus make him 
happy again ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Let the children draw their ideas of this story. 

Picture 

Christ's Charge to St. Peter, by Raphael. 

Blackboard 




LOVE 

Golden Text for Lessons 50 to 52 : Let us love 
one another, for love is of God (1 John 4 : 7). 



Lesson 50 

Jonathan's Love for David (1 Sam. 18: 1-4; 

20: 1-42). 

Result Sought : 

A loving spirit. 

Lesson Taught : 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many of you have some little friends ? Tell 
me about them. 

2. Lesson Story. . 

Our story to-day is about two friends, a prince and 
a shepherd boy. I think you have heard of them 
before. The prince was the king's son and the 
shepherd boy was the curly-haired David who killed 
the great giant Goliath. 

After David had killed the great giant he was 
taken to the king's tent. There he saw a tall young 
man leaning on a spear, near the king's seat. This 
was Jonathan, the prince. He looked at David with 
sparkling eyes, for he liked people who were brave 
and strong, and when he heard the king asking 
David to come and live with them he was glad. 
174 



Love 175 

As each day went by and he saw more of the 
shepherd boy he grew to love him dearly. David 
grew to love Prince Jonathan just as much, and one 
day they promised each other to be friends always. 
Then Jonathan wanted to show David that he loved 
him, so he took off his own fine cloak and put it 
upon David. He gave him his belt, too, and his 
bow and shining sword, until the shepherd boy, too, 
looked like a prince. After that David and Jonathan 
went together to fight the king's enemies. But often, 
when they had time, they played games and sang 
sweet songs td the music of the harp. 

One day the king became angry with David. This 
made Jonathan very sad, and he begged the king not 
to harm his friend. King Saul promised that he 
would not, but soon he was as angry as ever. At 
last David said to Jonathan: "What have I done 
that the king, thy father, is still angry with me ? 
To-morrow he will give a great feast and I should go 
to it, but I am afraid that he will harm me." So 
David went and hid himself in the fields and Jona- 
than had to go to the king's feast without him. In 
the middle of the feast King Saul, who had been 
wondering why David's place was empty, asked 
Jonathan where he was. Jonathan said that he had 
gone away. Then the king was exceedingly angry 
with David and also with Jonathan the prince, and he 
cried loudly : ' ' Send now and fetch David unto me." 
Jonathan now knew that the king really meant to 
harm David. He stood up and asked his father : 
1 ' Why dost thou wish to harm David ? What evil 
hath he done ? ' ' The king was too angry to answer, 



1/6 A Beginners' Course 

but he took his spear and drove Prince Jonathan 
from the feast. 

The next morning Jonathan took his bow and went 
out into the field to try and find David. A little 
boy in a white tunic went with him to carry his 
arrows. Jonathan shot his arrows here and there 
and the little boy ran after them and brought them 
back. After a while he sent the boy away. Then 
David, who had heard them talking, arose from the 
tall grass where he had been hiding. Jonathan ran 
to meet him and they threw their arms around one 
another. Then Jonathan told David that the king 
was still angry, and he would have to go far away. 
So they kissed one another and then David hurried 
away across the field. Jonathan went back to the 
palace without his friend, but he was happy just to 
know that he was safe. 

3. Transition. 

Who became David' s best friend when he went to 
live with the king ? What did Jonathan give David 
to show how much he loved him ? When the king 
was angry with David how did Jonathan help him ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Sand-trays. With the children's help, picture out 
on the sand-tray the last part of the lesson story. 
Make the field and put in it some grass or stones 
behind which David can hide, and represent the 
king's dwelling in the distance. Bring Jonathan 
and the lad to the field, and afterwards portray the 
meeting between Jonathan and David. 



Love i j j 



™r 



Picture 

David and Jonathan, by Dore. 

Memory Gem 

" Cherries ripe and cherries red ! 
* Hold your apron,' Charlie said; 

And his hat he rilled up, too, 
'For,' said loving little Lou, 
< We'll take some to Annie May, 
She's not very well to-day.' " 



Lesson 51 

riary's Love for Jesus (John 12 : 1-8 ; Mark 

14: 3-9). 

Golden Text : Let us love one another, for love is of 
God (1 John 4 : 7). 

Result Sought: 

A loving spirit. 

Lesson Taught : 

« 

1. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

How many of you have a kitty ? Does she love 

you ? How do you know she does ? Did you ever 

see a dog tell some one how much it loved him ? 
How did it tell him ? 

2. Lesson Story. 

Our story to-day tells us how a young woman 
named Mary showed Jesus how much she loved him, 



178 A Beginners" Course 

Mary lived in a little village in the country with 
her sister Martha and her brother Lazarus. Jesus 
was their friend. They all loved hirn dearly, and 
he, as often as he could, walked out from the big 
city to rest and be happy in their home, or with other 
friends in the village where thev lived. 

One evening soon after the golden sun had gone 
below the hills Jesus and some of his friends came 
to this place. They had come a long journey and 
were tired and dusty. Then some of those who loved 
him got -ready a supper for him, and Mary and Mar- 
tha and Lazarus were there. 

When the time came and all the guests were 
gathered, Jesus sat at the table close beside Lazarus. 
Martha waited upon them, but Mary had something 
else to do. She had been wondering ever since 
Jesus came what special thing she could do to show 
him that she loved him. At last she had thought of 
something. She had a white box of beautiful per- 
fume ; it was very precious, for it had cost a great 
deal of money. " I will give him that," she thought ; 
"nothing is too good for Jesus." So while Martha 
was passing the figs and cake and cool drinks, Mary 
slipped away and got her white box of perfume. Then 
she came back and knelt beside Jesus. She broke the 
seal of the white box and poured the perfume over 
his feet until the whole house was full of the beautiful 
odor of it. Then she wiped the feet with the thick, 
dark hair that fell over her shoulders. As she did 
this, Jesus smiled lovingly into her eyes and thanked 
her before all the people. Then Mary was happy, for 
she knew Jesus understood how much she loved him. 



Love 179 

3. Transition. 

Whom did Jesus often go to visit ? What did they 
make for him one time when he came to see them ? 
How did Mary show her love for him at the supper ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Have ready traced on pieces of dark brown paper 
with white ink or white paint simple outline pictures 
of the alabaster box shown in the blackboard cut. 
Give these out to the, children with brushes dipped in 
white paint and let. them fill in the outlines. They 
might take these home with them or leave them 
behind to adorn the walls of the class room. 

Picture 

Feast at House of Simon, by Veronese. 

Blackboard 




Lesson 52 
Jesus' Love for His Friends (John 11 : 1-44). 

Golden Text : Let us love one another, for love is of 
God (1 John 4 : 7). 



i8o A Beginners Course 

Result Sought : 

A loving spirit. 

Lesson Taught: 

i. Preparation for Lesson Story. 

Prepare for to-day's story by a brief review of last 
Sunday's lesson. 

2. Lesson Story. 

One time Jesus went away on a long journey. His 
friends, Mary and Martha and Lazarus, who lived in 
the pretty cottage in the country, missed his visits to 
their home. One day the brother Lazarus became 
ill, and then they missed Jesus more than ever, for 
they knew that if he were only with them, he could 
cure Lazarus. 

As the days went by and the young man grew no 
better, Mary said to her sister : " Let us send and tell 
the Master that our brother is ill. When he knows that 
he will come and make him well." So they sent. 
" Lord, he whom thou lovest is ill," was what the 
message said. Jesus was sorry to hear that the 
people he loved so dearly were in trouble. But he 
knew that he could help them. So he and his friends 
started back to the home of Lazarus. It was a long 
way that they had to go, far across the river and 
over the hills, and it took them a long time. When 
at last they came near the cottage, they heard sad 
sounds of weeping. Jesus' friends whispered one to 
another: "Alas! they weep because Lazarus is 
dead." As they drew nearer Martha, dressed in a 
black robe, came out to meet Jesus. She looked at 
him with sad eyes and said : "Lord, if thou hadst 



Love 1 8 1 

been here, my brother had not died." But Jesus 
comforted her, saying: "Thy brother shall live 
again." Then Martha went into the house and 
brought Mary and some friends who were there. 
Mary ran to Jesus and fell at his feet weeping. As 
he lifted her up, the others could see that he, too, was 
weeping, so grieved was he to see the friends he 
loved so troubled. He asked them to take him to 
the grave of Lazarus. When they came to it, Jesus 
told some men to take. away the big stone that cov- 
ered it over. Then he called in a loud voice : 
"Lazarus, come forth," and the brother so dear to 
them all came back to life. 

Now there was great gladness and rejoicing ; the 
faces were smiling and bright once more. They went 
back to the cottage thanking their kind friend Jesus 
for helping them. And no one was more glad than 
Jesus himself, for he loved them. 

3. Transition. 

What message did Martha and Mary send to 
Jesus ? When Jesus came to their home, what did 
he find ? How did he feel for them ? How did he 
help them ? 

4. Expression of Lesson Story. 

Give the children blocks and have them build 
under your direction a simple little cottage, the home 
of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. 

Picture 

At the Home of Mary and Martha. 



OCT 21 1904 



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